To describe a study protocol that evaluates the effectiveness of the 'Home-but not Alone' educational programme delivered via a mobile health application in improving parenting outcomes.
The postnatal period is a stressful period that poses numerous challenges for parents. To ensure a smooth transition, it is important to support these parents during this demanding period. Meanwhile, the development in mobile-based technology gives us the opportunity to develop an accessible educational programme that can be potentially beneficial for new parents. However, there is a scarcity of theory-based educational programmes that have incorporated technology such as a mobile health application in the early postpartum period.
A randomized controlled trial with a two-group pre-test and post-test design.
The data will be collected from 118 couples, including both first-time parents and parents already with kids on the day of their discharge from a public hospital. Eligible parents will be randomly allocated to either a control group (receiving routine care) or an intervention group (routine care plus access to the 'Home-but not Alone' mobile health application. Outcome measures comprise of parenting self-efficacy, social support, parenting satisfaction and postnatal depression. Data will be collected at the baseline (on the day of discharge) and at four weeks postpartum.
This will be an empirical study that evaluates a theory-based educational programme delivered via an innovative mobile health application on parental outcomes. Results from this study will enhance parenting self-efficacy, social support and parenting satisfaction, which may then reduce parental risks of postnatal depression. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.