Online Training for Addressing Perinatal Depression

Summary

The study team is developing an e-learning course to train obstetric providers to address perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. The study team will conduct a formative evaluation of the e-learning course with 10 obstetric providers and revise/refine the course based on feedback and then conduct a summative evaluation using a cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). The three-arm cluster RCT will evaluate the effectiveness of 1) a virtual implementation protocol and e-learning/toolkit as compared to 2) e-learning/toolkit alone as compared to 3) treatment-as-usual. Effectiveness will be evaluated based on rates and quality of care for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Using 2:2:1 randomization, the study team will randomize a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 25 obstetric practices into three groups: (1) virtual implementation protocol plus e-learning/toolkit (n=6 to 10); (2) e-learning/toolkit alone (n=6 to 10); and (3) treatment-as-usual (n=3 to 5), which will yield a maximum of 1000 patient charts evaluated for care received from obstetric providers in the randomized practices. Charts from 40 patients per practice will be evaluated at 3 different time points.

Conditions

• Mood Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Virtual implementation protocol

Participants assigned to the virtual implementation protocol plus e-learning/toolkit group will take the e-learning course and also receive additional assistance through Virtual Implementation support. The Virtual Implementation strategy will be provided through virtual assistance, training, and toolkits to help obstetric practices integrate perinatal mental health and obstetric care and is delivered over 2-3 months and includes two 1-hour virtual implementation e-meetings. Implementation will occur within the practice where a champion is identified who establishes a quality improvement team to implement the practice's change plan to achieve their goals of addressing perinatal mental health conditions.

BEHAVIORAL

e-learning toolkit

A toolkit given to obstetric care providers to enhance knowledge about and screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Participants assigned to the e-learning/toolkit alone group will take an e-learning course.This four-part online learning course aims to help obstetric care practitioners address perinatal mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and bipolar disorder.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Praxis, Inc.

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Massachusetts, Worcester

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Nancy Byatt, DO, MS, MBA, FACLP · University of Massachusetts Medical School/UMass Memorial Health

• Tiffany Moore Simas, MD, MPH, MEd, FACOG · University of Massachusetts Medical School/UMass Memorial Health

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-08-17

Primary Completion

2023-05-31

Completion

2023-06-01

Countries

• United States

Study Locations