"Peer Support for Postpartum Depression" Study
Researchers at the University of Minnesota are recruiting participants for a "Peer Support for Postpartum Depression" study to determine the benefit of 2 types of peer support - peer telephone support and in-home postpartum doula support - on depression outcomes. Participating mothers will be asked to see their provider for usual depression care, they will be randomized to 3 groups (peer telephone support, postpartum doula support, and a control group), and health outcomes will be evaluated in 6 months.
We are asking for your help in identifying and informing us of women who meet the criteria for our study:
- Depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 >10) - we can do the screening
- Age >16 years
- Infant 0-6 months old
- English-literate
- Resident of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) Metro area
You can use this script to determine whether the mother is willing to be called:
"You appear to be experiencing postpartum mood changes. In addition to the management we discussed here today, I am aware of a University of Minnesota/HealthEast study that looks at the benefit of peer support for postpartum depressive symptoms. Would it be all right if I gave your name and number to the study coordinator, so that she can call you to tell you more about it and see if you qualify?"
If she is willing to be called, you could call our research line (612-624-3129), and leave the woman’s name and phone number. We will then call her, administer a depression screen, and if this is positive (PHQ-9 >10) and she otherwise qualifies, she will be invited to participate. Although we prefer that the provider or clinic staff member make the call, as a depressed woman may not take the initiative to do so, you could also give her a study flyer, and have the mother initiate the phone call to our study team.
Thanks very much for your help!
Dwenda Gjerdingen, MD, MS
Bethesda Clinic
580 Rice St.
St. Paul, MN 55103
Phone: 651-223-7327
Pager: 651-864-1473
Email: dgjerdin@umphysicians.umn.edu
|
