Project ECHO in Psychiatric Workforce Development: the Example of a Perinatal Mental Health ECHO

Objective Perinatal mental health and substance use disorders (PMHSUD) often go unrecognized and untreated. This study examined the use of the Project ECHO model to teach obstetric, primary care, and mental health clinicians about screening, diagnosis, and treatment of PMHSUD. Methods Participants in 3 years of the University of Washington’s Moms’ Access Project (MAP) ECHO program (2019–2022) completed pre- and post-program surveys. Nine participants in year 1 completed qualitative interviews. Dedoose was used for qualitative analysis of interviews. Results Of 136 participants, 62.5% (15/24) completed both pre- and post-surveys in year 1, 56% (28/50) in year 2, and 32.2% (20/62) in year 3. Most respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they were glad to have participated (96.8%; 60/62) and that they had used information learned in the program in treating a patient (95.1%; 58/61). In all years, respondents endorsed increased confidence regarding learning objectives of the program. Qualitative interviews following year 1 yielded themes of hierarchy of competence, motivation versus results of participation, connection, and politics of change: position and practice type. Conclusions Findings supported the feasibility, acceptability, and self-reported effectiveness of the ECHO model for workforce development in PMHSUD.