[Survey of learning needs regarding postpartum depression among public health nurses in Japanese municipalities]

Objectives　This study aimed to identify the learning needs that public health nurses (PHNs) wish to meet in addressing postpartum depression among mothers in municipalities Japan.Methods　A mail survey was conducted with PHNs working in maternal and child health departments in 1,741 cities, wards, towns, and villages throughout Japan by a representative from each facility using a self-administered, unmarked questionnaire. The questionnaire included 23 items pertaining to sex, age, years of experience as a PHN, previous participation fees, method of participation, and desired future study content regarding postpartum depression. The analysis used Spearman's rank correlation coefficient for the association with each attribute, Mann-Whitney U test for comparisons based on training participation, and Kruskal-Wallis test for comparisons by years of experience. The Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons.Results　In total, 1,741 questionnaires were distributed and 630 were returned (response rate: 36.2%). The participants' mean age was 40.0 ± 9.4 years, with 233 (37.0%) in their 40s. The average number of years of experience as a PHN was 12.7±8.9, with 166 (26.3%) having 1-5 years of experience. Approximately 501 nurses (79.5%) had attended workshops on postpartum depression. Regarding the desire to participate in future training sessions for postpartum depression, 476 (75.6%) responded "Yes." The most common method of payment for participation in past training was "free of charge" (427 respondents, 67.8%), followed by "publicly funded" (242 respondents, 38.4%). Regarding the preferred mode of training, 325 (51.6%) preferred on-demand (video viewing-on-demand) training and 284 (45.1%) preferred real-time online training. Regarding the desired content of training on postpartum depression, the items for which > 60% answered "Yes" were the pathogenesis of postpartum depression, correct use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), perspectives on assessing mothers' psychiatric symptoms, and how to deal with suicidal thoughts and feelings.A significant difference was observed in the participation status of training sessions on postpartum depression and learning content regarding the "correct use of the EPDS (P = .004)" and "social resources available in the community (P = .002)."Conclusion　Approximately 80% of PHNs have participated in training sessions on postpartum depression and would want to receive further training eventually.Regarding future training methods, PHNs desired learning methods using information and communication technology, and > 60% desired learning content with practical application, such as "perspectives for assessing psychiatric symptoms in mothers," "methods for dealing with suicidal thoughts and feelings," "correct use of EPDS," and "pathophysiology of postpartum depression."