Yvette Rolle
University of St. Thomas Carol and Odis Peavy School of Nursing, USA
Title: The effectiveness of facilitated web-mediated postpartum depression education and postpartum discharge instructions
Biography
Biography: Yvette Rolle
Abstract
At the microsystem level of care prior to the discharge of the postpartum patient, comprehensive education or screening for depressive symptoms is uncommon (Leahy-Warren, McCarthy, & Corcoran, 2012; Marsh, J. (2013). An evidence based practice project was developed and implemented to support a practice that facilitated patient and family web-mediated postpartum depression education in addition to routine postpartum discharge instructions. Patient self-screening for depressive symptoms was also offered prior to discharge. This project was implemented on an inpatient postpartum unit at a hospital. Thirty-five postpartum patients were directed to use a smart phone for postpartum depression education. They also received routine postpartum discharge instructions. A second group with the same number of patients only received routine discharge instructions. Both cohorts were surveyed for postpartum depression symptom recognition. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression scale was completed by all patients to screen for early indicators of postpartum depression. The group who received both interventions scored higher in postpartum depression symptom recognition and had lower postpartum depression scores on the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression scale. No significant early indicators of postpartum depression were identified.