Effect of transitional care on postpartum negative mood for puerpera

Objective To investigate the effect of transitional care on postpartum negative mood for puerpera. Methods One hundred sixty eligible puerperas were recruited between January 2013 and October 2014. By order of hospitalization, participants were randomly assigned into two groups. The control group (80 cases) received routine care. The study group received transitional care which consisted of predischarge assessment, structured home visits and telephone follow-ups, psychological rehabilitation group activities, phone and internet consulting services within six months after discharge. Screenings of predischarge depression and anxiety symptoms of the study group were done by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Evaluations of depression and anxiety symptoms of two groups were done by Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS)on postpartum forty-two days and six months. Results There were no differences in demographics, maternal indicators and completion of follow-up between groups (P > 0.05). On postpartum forty-two days, the study group had significantly better depression and anxiety scores (P 0.05). On postpartum six months, the study group had significantly better depression and anxiety scores, less incidences of depression and anxiety than the control group (P < 0.05). The depression and anxiety scores of the study group were 7.13±2.52 and 42.6±6.0, those of control group were 8.87±2.66 and 48.8±5.9. The incidences of depression and anxiety of study group were 6.4% (5/78) and 7.7%(6/78), those of control group were both 26.0% (20/77). Analysis of multiple linear regression suggested that age, education level and family income would affect transitional care intervention on postpartum depression. Conclusions This study established a nurse-led transitional care model which selected the gynecology and obstetrics professional nurse as advanced practice nurse. Results demonstrated that transitional care was effective on improving maternal postpartum depression and anxiety. Key words: Depression; Anxiety; Transitional care; Postpartum