Don't Leave Me in the Dark: Implementation of a Postpartum Depression Patient Awareness Program

Don’t Leave Me in the Dark:
 Implementation of a Postpartum Depression Patient Awareness Program

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a crippling disease that often goes underdiagnosed and undertreated.  Early detection and treatment are the keys to optimal mental health for the mother, her baby, and her family.  Some states mandate hospitals provide education and/or screening for PPD prior to patient discharge.  Our state does not have a law pertaining to PPD.

Nurses on the Mother-Infant unit expressed concern that minimal patient/family education regarding postpartum depression was being offered.  To be proactive, a committee was formed to develop a PPD education program.  The committee’s initial step was to consult Behavioral Health. Due to lack of resources in Behavioral Health, minimal support could be offered.

After a thorough literature review, the committee proposed that the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) be administered to every postpartum patient with the intent of screening for existing depression.  A trial was completed to estimate the volume of patients that would require intervention.  Fifteen percent of the trial population scored 11 or greater on the EPDS. Due to the volume of deliveries (7,000/year) physicians and behavioral health were concerned resources for identified patients would not be available.

Determined to provide education, committee members developed a patient brochure written at a 6^th grade literacy level.  The brochure describes PPD and lists available community resources.  The brochure has been translated into Spanish.  Prior to discharge each patient receives the brochure and individualized education by a nurse.

Although the program is not what we initially envisioned, the nurses are proud to have achieved their goal of providing patient/family PPD education.

Future plans are:  translate the brochure into different languages due to our diverse population, develop a PPD support group at our outpatient care center, and implement the EPDS prior to discharge when resources are available.

This poster illustrates how committed nurses were able to develop, revise, and implement PPD patient/family education with limited resources and support. Poster attendees will receive a copy of the brochure.