Effectiveness of the "Essential Coaching for Every Mother" postpartum text message program on maternal psychosocial outcomes: A randomized controlled trial. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dol, Justine; Aston, Megan; Grant, Amy; McMillan, Douglas; Tomblin Murphy, Gail; Campbell-Yeo, Marsha
• Is Part Of: Digital health. Volume 8(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: mHealth -- self-efficacy -- postpartum depression -- postpartum anxiety -- social support -- intervention; Medical care -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Medical informatics -- Periodicals; 362.10285
• DOI: 10.1177/20552076221107886
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-2076

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of the Essential Coaching for Every Mother program on maternal self-efficacy, perceived social support, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum depression at six-weeks postpartum. Methods: Participants from Nova Scotia were randomized, stratified by parity, to receive either the Essential Coaching for Every Mother postpartum text-message program or usual care, from birth to six-weeks postpartum. Participants completed surveys at enrollment (after birth) and at 6 weeks. Differences between groups were analyzed using analysis of covariance, considering parity and group allocation. Results: Of the 171 participants recruited (53% primiparous), 150 completed the baseline survey (intervention n = 78, control n = 72). At baseline, newborns were on average 4.4 days old (SD: 3.9) and mothers 31.4 years old (SD: 4.5). Controlling for maternal age, primiparous women in the intervention group had a greater increase in maternal self-efficacy than primiparous women in the control group (mean difference [MD] = 4.84 (standard error [SE] = 0.75) vs. MD = 2.13 (SE = 0.81), p = 0.034). Women allocated to the intervention group had a greater reduction in postpartum anxiety symptoms than women in the control group for both multiparous and primiparous women (MD = −3.91 (SE = 1.82) vs. 2.81 (SE = 1.86), p = 0.011). There was no significant change in postpartum depression scores or perceived social support for either group. Discussion: This study presents the results of the first Canadian postpartum text message program, which found improved psychosocial outcomes for postpartum women. Given the potential to reach numerous women at a low cost across geographical locations, the scalability of this intervention can improve maternal self-efficacy and reduce postpartum anxiety.