Standardising Training of Nurses in an Evidence-Based Psychosocial Intervention for Perinatal Depression: Randomized Trial of Electronic vs. Face-to-Face Training in China

Anum Nisar, Juan Yin, Yiping Nan, Huanyuan Luo, Dongfang Han, Lei Yang, Jiaying Li, Duolao Wang, Atif Rahman and Xiaomei Li
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Anum Nisar: Health Science Centre, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Juan Yin: School of Nursing, Dalian University, Dalian 116622, China
Yiping Nan: Health Science Centre, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Huanyuan Luo: Global Health Trials Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
Dongfang Han: Health Science Centre, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Lei Yang: Health Science Centre, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Jiaying Li: Health Science Centre, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Duolao Wang: Global Health Trials Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
Atif Rahman: Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
Xiaomei Li: Health Science Centre, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Rates of perinatal depression in China are high. The Thinking Healthy Programme is a WHO-endorsed, evidence-based psychosocial intervention for perinatal depression, requiring five days of face-to-face training by a specialist trainer. Given the paucity of specialist trainers and logistical challenges, standardized training of large numbers of nurses is a major challenge for scaling up. We developed an electronic training programme (e-training) which eliminates the need for specialist-led, face-to-face training. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the e-training compared to conventional face-to-face training in nursing students. Methods: A single blind, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial was conducted. One hundred nursing students from two nursing schools were randomly assigned to either e-training or conventional face-to-face training. Results: E-training was not inferior to specialist-led face-to-face training immediately post-training [mean ENhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic factors (ENACT) score (M) 45.73, standard deviation (SD) 4.03 vs. M 47.08, SD 4.53; mean difference (MD) −1.35, 95% CI; (−3.17, 0.46), p = 0.14]. There was no difference in ENACT scores at three months [M = 42.16, SD 4.85 vs. M = 42.65, SD 4.65; MD = −0.481, 95% CI; (−2.35, 1.39), p = 0.61]. Conclusions: E-training is a promising tool with comparative effectiveness to specialist-led face-to-face training. E-training can be used for training of non-specialists for evidence-based psychosocial interventions at scale and utilized where there is a shortage of specialist trainers, but practice under supervision is necessary to maintain competence. However, continued practice under supervision may be necessary to maintain competence.

Keywords: perinatal depression; technology; training; psychosocial intervention; Thinking Healthy Programme (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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