Norwegian public health nurses' experience using a screening protocol for postpartum depression

This descriptive qualitative study explores the use of a procedure for postpartum depression (PPD) screening by public health nurses in a Norwegian municipality, and is based on in-depth interviews. The 11 nurses regarded the screening procedure as valuable and felt that the training they had received in its use made them more confident about supporting parents by discussing mental health problems. They found the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale easy to score and easy for the mothers to complete, and they identified PPD more frequently than before. Further research should explore parents' views on such screening and should investigate methods used for management of PPD in primary health care.