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BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

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Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Implementation of depression screening in antenatal clinics through tablet computers: results of a feasibility study

Authors: José S. Marcano-Belisario, Ajay K. Gupta, John O’Donoghue, Paul Ramchandani, Cecily Morrison, Josip Car

Published in: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Background

Mobile devices may facilitate depression screening in the waiting area of antenatal clinics. This can present implementation challenges, of which we focused on survey layout and technology deployment.

Methods

We assessed the feasibility of using tablet computers to administer a socio-demographic survey, the Whooley questions and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to 530 pregnant women attending National Health Service (NHS) antenatal clinics across England. We randomised participants to one of two layout versions of these surveys: (i) a scrolling layout where each survey was presented on a single screen; or (ii) a paging layout where only one question appeared on the screen at any given time.

Results

Overall, 85.10% of eligible pregnant women agreed to take part. Of these, 90.95% completed the study procedures. Approximately 23% of participants answered Yes to at least one Whooley question, and approximately 13% of them scored 10 points of more on the EPDS. We observed no association between survey layout and the responses given to the Whooley questions, the median EPDS scores, the number of participants at increased risk of self-harm, and the number of participants asking for technical assistance. However, we observed a difference in the number of participants at each EPDS scoring interval (p = 0.008), which provide an indication of a woman’s risk of depression. A scrolling layout resulted in faster completion times (median = 4 min 46 s) than a paging layout (median = 5 min 33 s) (p = 0.024). However, the clinical significance of this difference (47.5 s) is yet to be determined.

Conclusions

Tablet computers can be used for depression screening in the waiting area of antenatal clinics. This requires the careful consideration of clinical workflows, and technology-related issues such as connectivity and security. An association between survey layout and EPDS scoring intervals needs to be explored further to determine if it corresponds to a survey layout effect. Future research needs to evaluate the effect of this type of antenatal depression screening on clinical outcomes and clinic workflows.

Trial registration

This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT02516982 on 20 July 2015.

Available only for authorised users

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Title: Implementation of depression screening in antenatal clinics through tablet computers: results of a feasibility study
Authors: José S. Marcano-Belisario
Ajay K. Gupta
John O’Donoghue
Paul Ramchandani
Cecily Morrison
Josip Car
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6947
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-017-0459-8

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Implementation of depression screening in antenatal clinics through tablet computers: results of a feasibility study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

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