iCARE Self-Guided Digital Intervention for Postpartum Depression in Danish Mothers: Formative Research Using...

Area of Science:

• Digital mental health interventions
• Psychological interventions for postpartum depression
• User-centered design in healthcare

Background:

• Postpartum depression (PPD) presents a significant public health challenge with persistent access barriers to care.
• There's a growing need for accessible, self-guided digital interventions for mothers with mild to moderate PPD.
• Existing digital interventions often lack user input and integration strategies within stepped care models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development process of iCARE, a self-guided digital intervention for PPD in Denmark.
• To present the theoretical framework and logic model of the iCARE program.
• To explore the initial usability and prospective acceptability of the iCARE intervention.

Main Methods:

• User-centered design principles guided the six-step development process.
• Included literature review, user needs assessment (interviews, focus groups), iterative design with stakeholder feedback, and prototype testing.
• Methods involved collaboration with mothers, mental health experts, and digital psychiatry specialists.

Main Results:

• User feedback highlighted the need for timely psychoeducation, coping strategies, and clear pathways to further care.
• The iCARE prototype, developed iteratively, features psychoeducation, CBT/ACT-based exercises, and mood monitoring.
• Prototype testing demonstrated high prospective acceptability, leading to refinements in content, engagement, and usability.

Conclusions:

• iCARE is a user-developed, self-guided internet-based intervention for mothers with mild to moderate PPD in Denmark.
• The intervention integrates user input, user-centered design, and psychological theory.
• Further research, including RCTs, is needed to assess iCARE's effectiveness and integration into maternal healthcare.