Reducing Barriers That Hinder Obstetric Providers from Addressing Perinatal Depression: A Provider Education Module

Background: Perinatal depression affects approximately one in seven women and is one of the most common complications that occurs during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Untreated depression can have devastating consequences for the mother and her children. Despite the high prevalence and negative effects, pregnant and postpartum women face barriers to establishing adequate care and thus many go untreated. Many obstetric providers lack the understanding and confidence needed to manage and treat women who screen positive. Objective: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to create and deliver an education program to obstetric providers on depression screening, assessment, and treatment. The objective was to increase knowledge and confidence levels needed to affect recognition and management of perinatal depression. Methods: A PowerPoint presentation was utilized to educate providers on assessment and management of perinatal depression. A pre- and post-test design was used to evaluate the impact on knowledge and confidence levels. Results: Mean scores on knowledge and confidence levels were increased following the PowerPoint presentation. Conclusion: This intervention appeared to have a positive impact on depression knowledge and confidence levels in obstetric providers. Implications for Nursing: This project is anticipated to promote early identification and intervention for perinatal depression.