Effectiveness of a web-enabled psychoeducational resource for postpartum depression and anxiety among women in British Columbia

Claire G Lawrence; Genevieve Breau; Lily Yang; Orli S Hellerstein; Catriona Hippman; Andrea L Kennedy; Deirdre Ryan; Barbara Shulman; Lori A Brotto

doi:10.1007/s00737-024-01468-8

Effectiveness of a web-enabled psychoeducational resource for postpartum depression and anxiety among women in British Columbia

Arch Womens Ment Health. 2024 May 6. doi: 10.1007/s00737-024-01468-8. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Claire G Lawrence^{1

2}, Genevieve Breau³, Lily Yang⁴, Orli S Hellerstein⁵, Catriona Hippman^{1

2

6

7}, Andrea L Kennedy^{7

8}, Deirdre Ryan^{7

8}, Barbara Shulman^{7

8}, Lori A Brotto^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Women's Health Research Institute, BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
² Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
³ School of Human Sciences, Faculty of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, London, SE10 9LS, UK. G.Breau@greenwich.ac.uk.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁶ Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
⁷ Reproductive Mental Health Program, BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁸ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

PMID: 38709329
DOI: 10.1007/s00737-024-01468-8

Abstract

Purpose: Postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety (PPA) affect nearly one-quarter (23%) of women in Canada. eHealth is a promising solution for increasing access to postpartum mental healthcare. However, a user-centered approach is not routinely taken in the development of web-enabled resources, leaving postpartum women out of critical decision-making processes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, usability, and user satisfaction of PostpartumCare.ca, a web-enabled psychoeducational resource for PPD and PPA, created in partnership with postpartum women in British Columbia.

Methods: Participants were randomized to either an intervention group (n = 52) receiving access to PostpartumCare.ca for four weeks, or to a waitlist control group (n = 51). Measures evaluating PPD (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and PPA symptoms (Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale) were completed at baseline, after four weeks, and after a two-week follow-up. User ratings of website usability and satisfaction and website metrics were also collected.

Results: PPD and PPA symptoms were significantly reduced for the intervention group only after four weeks, with improvements maintained after a two-week follow-up, corresponding with small-to-medium effect sizes (PPD: partial η² = 0.03; PPA: partial η² = 0.04). Intervention participants were also more likely than waitlist controls to recover from clinical levels of PPD symptoms (χ ² (1, n = 63) = 4.58, p = .032) and PostpartumCare.ca's usability and satisfaction were rated favourably overall.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that a web-enabled psychoeducational resource, created in collaboration with patient partners, can effectively reduce PPD and PPA symptoms, supporting its potential use as a low-barrier option for postpartum women.

Trial registration: Protocol for this trial was preregistered on NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine, ClinicalTrials.gov as of May 2022 (ID No. NCT05382884).

Keywords: Digital Health; Postpartum anxiety; Postpartum depression; Psychoeducation; eHealth.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT05382884