Aim: To evaluate the effects of internet-based support program for primiparous women in terms of improving the levels of maternal self-efficacy, social support, and satisfaction; and reducing their postpartum depression symptoms.
Design: A single-blinded, multicentre, randomized, controlled, parallel-group pre-test and repeated post-test design.
Methods: Based on the self-efficacy theory and the social exchange theory, the internet-based support program has five modules: (a) learning forum of parenting knowledge and skills; (b) communication forum; (c) ask-the-expert forum; (d) baby home forum; and (e) reminder forum. Primiparous women will be recruited in the obstetric wards of two university-affiliated hospitals in China. The participants (N = 258) will be randomly allocated to the intervention group that receive routine care and access to the internet-based support program and the control group that receive routine care during the 3 months postpartum. Maternal self-efficacy, social support, and postpartum depression symptoms will be measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention (post-test 1) and 3 months after the intervention (post-test 2). The study was funded in January 2018 and was ethically approved in May 2020.
Discussion: If the internet-based support program has positive outcomes, it will contribute to the scientific and practical knowledge of nursing interventions to support primiparous women on parenting; and could become the routine health care for health professionals to enhance parenting ability and mental well-being of new mothers.
Impact: As the first RCT study on parenting outcomes using a rigorous research design and a theoretical framework in China, this research will contribute to evidence on the effectiveness of using internet platform to support women after childbirth. The results could help to advance research about the use of internet-based intervention methods to improve women's maternal self-efficacy, social support, satisfaction, and to alleviate depression symptoms. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2000033154.
目标: 评价基于互联网的支持计划对初产妇女在提高母亲自我效能感、社会支持和满意度、减轻产后抑郁症状方面的效果。 设计: 单盲、多中心、随机、对照、平行组试验前和重复试验后设计。 方法: 基于自我效能感理论和社会交换理论,基于互联网的支持计划分为五个模块:(a)育儿知识和技能学习论坛;(b)交流论坛;(c)专家咨询论坛;(d)婴儿之家论坛;(e)注意事项提示论坛。中国两所大学附属医院的产科病房将招募初产妇女。参与者(N=258)将被随机分配到接受常规护理和基于互联网的支持计划的干预组和产后3个月接受常规护理的对照组。在基准线位置、干预后(试验后1)和干预后3个月(试验后2)测量母亲的自我效能感、社会支持和产后抑郁症状。该研究于2018年1月获得资助,并于2020年5月获得道德批准。 讨论: 如果基于互联网的支持计划取得积极成果,它将有助于提高护理干预措施的科学性和实用性,以支持初产妇女的育儿技能;并可能成为保健专业人员的常规保健,以提高新妈妈的育儿能力和心理健康。 影响: 作为中国第一个运用严谨研究设计和理论框架开展的育儿效果随机对照研究,本研究将有助于证明利用互联网平台支持产后妇女的有效性。本研究结果有助于推动基于互联网的干预方法提高女性作为母亲的自我效能感、社会支持、满意度以及缓解抑郁症状的研究。 中国临床试验注册中心:ChiCTR2000033154.
Keywords: internet-based intervention; maternal self-efficacy; nursing; postpartum depression; primiparous women; social support.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.