Technology‐assisted nursing for postpartum support: A randomized controlled trial

Aim To determine if an electronic nursing intervention during the first 6 months postpartum was effective in improving mood and decreasing stress. Background Unmet needs postpartum can have a negative impact on mood and parenting stress. Technology‐assisted nursing care may provide needed support and reduce risk. Design Randomized controlled trial (RCT) with three conditions. Methods Enrollment began on 11 May 2017. Participants were randomized into one of three groups after completion of the baseline survey. Intervention I participants received standardized electronic messages four times/week for 6 months postpartum. Intervention II participants additionally received the option for nurse contact. Depression and parenting stress as measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Parenting Stress Index‐Short form (PSI‐SF) was obtained at 3 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postpartum and results compared with a usual care group. Patient satisfaction and nursing factors were measured. Results Significantly higher satisfaction scores were found in both intervention groups as compared with control, but there were no significant changes in EPDS or PSI‐SF. Conclusion The interventions were perceived as helpful and not burdensome. Better nurse‐sensitive outcome measures are needed to adequately assess effectiveness. Impact Postpartum women report unmet needs for support and education. The interventions were perceived as being helpful but did not significantly reduce depressive symptoms or parenting stress. Nurses can use this research to inform development of innovative approaches to support postpartum women. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 02843022. 目的 探讨产后6个月的电子护理措施对改善情绪、减轻压力是否有效。背景未满足的产后需求会对情绪和育儿压力产生负面影响。技术辅助护理可以提供必要的帮助并降低风险。设计三种情况下的随机对照试验(RCT)。方法2017年5月11日开始招收受试人员。在完成基线调查后,将参与者随机分为三组。干预I组参与者在产后6个月内每周收到4次标准化电子信息。干预II组参与者还可以选择与护士接触。使用爱丁堡产后抑郁量表(EPDS)和育儿压力指数简表(PSI‐SF)测量产后3周、3个月和6个月的抑郁和育儿压力,并与普通护理组进行比较。测量患者满意度和护理因素。结果与对照组相比,两个干预组中满意度评分均显著高于对照组,但EPDS和PSI‐SF无明显变化。结论干预措施有助于减轻患者的负担。需要更好的护士敏感结果充分测量来评估疗效。影响产后妇女报告未满足的援助和教育需求。这些干预措施是有帮助的,但没有显著降低抑郁症状或育儿压力。护士可以利用这项研究来指导发展创新方法,以帮助产后妇女。试验注册号ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 02843022。