Comparison of effects of nursing care to problem solving training on levels of depressive symptoms in post partum women.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of nursing intervention to the effect of problem solving training on the level of postpartum depressive symptom.

METHODS

We utilized a pretest-posttest mutual controlled semi experimental model for this study. The study consisted of 62 women (30 in care group and 32 in training group), all of who were at risk for postpartum depression, but without major depressive symptoms. These women were not undergoing pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic treatment, were all literate and consented to join the study in Erzurum, Turkey. Participants (N=62), recruited over a 9 month, were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Women in care group (average age=21, 33.3% primaparus) were given nursing care for her depressive symptoms. Women in training group (average age=25, 33.9% primaparus) were taught problem solving skills.

RESULTS

Depressive symptoms were assessed before and after nursing interventions. We found that nursing care was effective women for with depressive symptoms (McNemar test, p<0.001), and problem-solving training was also effective (McNemar test, p<0.05). When the effectiveness of nursing care and the problem solving education was compared utilizing the BDI, it was found out that the nursing care was more effective than education alone (t=4.529, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Results from this study suggest that nursing care and problem solving training may be use confidently in the primary care setting by nurses for women with postpartum depressive symptoms.

PRACTICE IMPLICATION

Nurses play on important role in its detection and can reduce depressive symptoms. Public health nurses are equipped with care paths addressing specific health needs of depressed women in the primary care setting. Our finding indicate that these two programs of study can converge with meaningful results, and perhaps future research could address these points in a theoretical framework.