Measuring outcomes of digital technology-assisted nursing postpartum: A randomized controlled trial.

The study was done at one hospital in the Northeast United States, with participants described as predominantly white and well educated, so results may not apply to more diverse populations. Women with prior anxiety or depression may have been more motivated to join, so self-selection cannot be ruled out and the sample may be more psychologically vulnerable than typical new mothers. Attrition was expected during six-month follow-up, reasons for attrition were not all known, and participants who opted out did not respond to the final survey. Primary outcomes were not analyzed when the paper was written, so it cannot show whether the messages reduced depression or parenting stress. The messaging system was designed for appointment reminders, had limited functionality, and could be difficult to modify for clinical use. Nurse response to requests could be delayed by up to 24 hours because reports were generated daily. Intervention II had baseline imbalance in women of color and EPDS scores below 10, which may affect comparison.

The authors declared no conflict of interest. The supplied text does not state a funding source.

Do not conclude that digital nurse messaging reduces postpartum depression or parenting stress. The paper reports acceptability and nurse workload, but primary outcome analysis was not completed.