Program for Psychosocial Assessment During Pregnancy: Protocol for a Multimethod Study

Abstract

Background: Onset of depression and anxiety can occur before, during, or after pregnancy, and ongoing conditions can either improve or deteriorate at all stages. National and international guidelines recommend that maternal health care should contribute to improving pregnant women's mental health by consistently asking pertinent questions during pregnancy and offering necessary support and care. The implementation of a program for psychosocial assessment has been carried out in a region in Sweden. The program includes the identification of risk factors and ongoing mental ill-health, consultation with psychologists within maternal and child health care, and care pathways to other health care providers. Objective: The general aim of this research project is to investigate the effects of a program for psychosocial assessment during pregnancy on patients, as well as to evaluate the experiences of midwives and psychologists when working with the program. Methods: A multimethod study design will be used to evaluate possible effects of a program for psychosocial assessment during pregnancy, including a pre-and postimplementation comparison, alongside a qualitative study of the professionals' perspectives. Data sources for the research project include patient data from the Swedish Pregnancy Register, medical records, questionnaire responses, and interviews with midwives and psychologists. Results: The recruitment process is completed, and data collection and analysis are ongoing. The dissemination plan includes several publications of original research and two doctoral theses. Conclusions: This study's results are expected to be relevant for maternal health care, both nationally and internationally, as scientific evaluations of the effects of implementing a program for psychosocial assessment during pregnancy are scarce. The implementation and evaluation of the program may hopefully, in the future, serve as a model for more standardized and effective care. It may influence national policies and attract attention as a model for improving perinatal mental health and maternity care. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/67179