Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

Mums4mums -- structured telephone peer-support for women experiencing postnatal depression : a pilot RCT to test its clinical effectiveness

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Sembi, Sukhdev (2018) Mums4mums -- structured telephone peer-support for women experiencing postnatal depression : a pilot RCT to test its clinical effectiveness. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

[img]
Preview
PDF
WRAP_Theses_Sembi_2018.pdf - Submitted Version - Requires a PDF viewer.

Download (2099Kb) | Preview
Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b3264864~S15

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

Background

Postnatal Depression (PND) is experienced by around 13% of women, who suffer a range of disabling symptoms that can have a negative effect on the mother and infant relationship, with significant consequences in terms of the child’s later mental health. Research has shown that providing support to mothers experiencing PND can help reduce their depressive symptoms and improve their coping strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of telephone peer-support for women experiencing PND.

Methods/Design

A pilot RCT was conducted in which women who screened positive for postnatal depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS>=10) were randomised to receive telephone-based support from peers who had recovered from PND, or standard care. Primary outcome measures included depressive symptomatology measured post-intervention and at six-months using the EPDS, and parent-infant interaction using the CARE-Index. Secondary outcome measures included anxiety and depression, dyadic adjustment, parenting stress, and self-efficacy. Maternal perceptions of the telephone peer-support were being assessed using semi-structured interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data was also collected from the peer-supporters to assess the impact on them of delivering the intervention.

Results

Participants: twenty-eight participants were recruited to the study, and there was a fifty-percent dropout rate (intervention group n=6, control group n=8). While there were no differences in EPDS scores between the two groups at post-intervention, the intervention group continued to improve at six-month follow-up, whereas the control group showed signs of relapse. The intervention had no impact on mother-infant interaction. In-depth interview data show that women valued the support that was provided.

Peer-Supporters: nineteen peer-supporters were recruited, of whom five left before supporting a participant, and eight left after supporting only one participant. The quantitative results showed a significant non-clinical increase in anxiety at post intervention. The qualitative results indicated that the peer-supporters found the majority of calls challenging, and that delivering the intervention had had a deleterious impact on some peer-supporters.

Conclusion

While these findings suggest a positive impact of telephone-based peer-support, further research into ways of improving mother-infant interaction are urgently required. Research is also required into providing effective support for the peer supporters.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects: R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Postpartum depression -- Treatment, Maternal and infant welfare, Hotlines (Counseling), Mothers -- Health aspects
Official Date: July 2018
Dates:
DateEvent
July 2018UNSPECIFIED
Institution: University of Warwick
Theses Department: Warwick Medical School
Thesis Type: PhD
Publication Status: Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: Barlow, Jane, 1962-
Extent: 440 leaves : charts

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us