Online Training for Addressing Perinatal Depression

The objective of this cluster RCT is to evaluate the effectiveness of adding an implementation protocol to the e-learning/toolkit in comparison to the e-learning/toolkit alone in comparison to treatment-as-usual among a maximum of 1000 patients receiving care from 15 - 25 obstetric practices regarding the rates and quality of care for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Using 2:2:1 randomization, we will randomize 15 - 25 obstetric practices into three groups: (1) virtual implementation protocol plus e-learning/toolkit (n=6 - 10); (2) e-learning/toolkit alone (n=6 - 10); and (3) treatment-as-usual (n=3 - 5).

The study team will conduct a baseline practice and provider assessment which will inform restricted randomization based on existing approaches to screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and the clinical care of perinatal women who screen positive. Pre- and post-intervention data will be obtained through individual provider surveys to evaluate perinatal mood and anxiety disorder care practices, knowledge, and attitudes. Rates and quality of care for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders will be assessed pre- and post- using our established approach and tool to evaluate practice readiness to evaluate and address perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (Masters et al., submitted). Our tool quantifies the extent to which assessment, treatment, monitoring, and transfer of care for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders is documented in patient medical records and provides benchmarks to measure the extent to which obstetric practices successfully integrate perinatal mental health care into their workflow over time. Records will be reviewed from the initiation of prenatal care through postpartum care for given pregnancies, for all abstracted charts.

Participants in all phases of the project will complete the following: (1) a demographic questionnaire (pre-), (2) a knowledge test (pre- ,post- and final post assessment), (3) a practices and attitudes survey (pre-, post- and final post assessment), and (4) chart abstraction (pre- and post-) . The participants in the virtual implementation protocol plus e-learning/toolkit and e-learning/toolkit alone group will also complete a usability and satisfaction survey (post-test). All practices will also be asked to facilitate a medical record review/chart abstraction of a total of 120 patient files, 40 pre-pandemic and 40 post pandemic first wave and 40 post e-learning/implementation.

Inclusion criteria

• licensed independent providers e.g. Ob/Gyn attendings and residents, family medicine, Maternal Fetal Medicine physicians (attending/fellow), certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants)

Exclusion criteria

• providers from the participating practices that are unable to consent,
• individuals who are not yet adults,
• prisoners
• non-English speaking participants in the study.

Pregnant women will not be excluded from participation in the study.