Self‐efficacy in Infant Care Scale: Revision and further psychometric testing

et al. 2021

IJERPH

(1) Background: Some primiparous women are usually confronted with many parenting problems after childbirth, which can negatively influence the wellbeing of some mothers and infants. Evidence identified that internet interventions can include more tailored information, reach a larger research group, and supply more anonymity than face-to-face traditional interventions. Therefore, the internet-based support program (ISP) was designed to improve the parenting outcomes for Chinese first-time mothers. (2) Methods: A multicenter, single-blinded, pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted. From May to October 2020, a total of 44 participants were recruited in the obstetrical wards of two tertiary hospitals in China. Eighteen women in the control group received routine postnatal care; while eighteen women in the intervention group accessed to the ISP and routine postnatal care. The duration of intervention was not less than three months. Intervention outcomes were assessed through questionnaires before randomization (T0), immediately after intervention (T1), and three months after intervention (T2). The Self-efficacy in Infant Care Scale (SICS), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Postpartum Social Support Scale (PSSS) were included to measure MSE, postpartum depression (PPD), and social support, respectively. (3) Results: No significant difference between the two groups were found in terms of the baseline social-demographic characteristics; and the scores of SICS, EPDS and PSSS at T0 (p > 0.05). Repeated measures multivariate analysis of covariance found that women in the intervention group had a higher MSE score at T1 (6.63, p = 0.007), and T2 (5.75, p = 0.020); a lower EPDS score at T1 (3.11, p = 0.003), and T2 (2.50, p = 0.005); and a higher PSSS score at T1 (4.30, p = 0.001); and no significant difference at T2 (0.35, p = 0.743), compared with women in the control group. (4) Conclusion: The effect of ISP was evaluated to significantly increase primiparous women’s MSE, social support, and to alleviate their PPD symptoms. However, the small sample in pilot study restricted the research results. Therefore, the ISP should be further investigated with a larger, diverse sample to confirm whether it should be adopted as routine postnatal care to support primiparous women on parenting outcomes and mental wellbeing in the early stage of motherhood.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Internet-Based Support Program on Parenting Outcomes for Primiparous Women: A Pilot Study

Huang

Shen

et al. 2021

IJERPH

“…The higher average score women acquire indicates the higher MSE level women have. The internal consistency of SICS was 0.96, and ranged between 0.86 and 0.96 for its four dimensions [31]. The test-retest reliability coefficient of SICS was 0.93.…”

Section: Sicsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Surveillance of Parenting Outcomes, Mental Health and Social Support for Primiparous Women among the Rural-to-Urban Floating Population

Zhu

et al. 2021

Healthcare

China has the largest population of floating rural-to-urban women worldwide, most of whom are of childbearing age. However, few studies have been conducted to monitor the changing trends in parenting outcomes, mental health and social support for these women in the early postpartum period. In this quantitative longitudinal study, 680 primiparous women among the floating population were recruited in Shenzhen, China. Face-to-face collection of socio-demographic questionnaires was completed by researchers in maternity wards on the third postnatal day. Follow-up electronic questionnaires were dispatched to women via email or WeChat at 6 weeks and 12 weeks following childbirth, including the Self-efficacy in Infant Care Scale (SICS), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Postnatal Social Support Scale (PSSS), to measure maternal self-efficacy (MSE), postpartum depression (PPD) and social support, respectively. The mean scores of MSE for these floating women were 67.16 (14.35) at 6 weeks postpartum and slightly increased to 68.71 (15.00) at 12 weeks postpartum. The mean scores of EPDS remained almost stable, from 11.19 (4.89) to 11.18 (5.34) at the two time points. The prevalence of mild and severe PPD among floating women at 6 and 12 weeks after childbirth decreased from 54.4% to 40.1% and from 50.6% to 35.4%, respectively. The mean score of social support was 37.04 (10.15) at 6 weeks postpartum and slightly improved to 38.68 (10.46) at 12 weeks postpartum. Primiparous women among the rural-to-urban migrant population had an obviously negative status of parenting outcomes and mental health; and there was a lack of social support after childbirth. In future, tailored evidence-based interventions are highly needed to promote floating women’s parenting outcomes, mental wellbeing and social support in the early stages of motherhood. As a higher-risk group of PPD, primiparous women among the floating population require effective and accessible mental health care after childbirth, such as early PPD screening and timely therapeutic methods.

“…MSE will be evaluated by the Self‐efficacy in Infant Care Scale (SICS) (Prasopkittikun & Tilokskulchai, 2010). The SICS is a 46‐item scale comprising of four dimensions.…”

Section: The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The SICS has demonstrated good psychometric properties. The reported internal consistency was 0.96 for the total scale and ranged from 0.86 to 0.96 for its dimensions (Prasopkittikun & Tilokskulchai, 2010). In terms of Chinese version SICS, its Content Validity Index (CVI) was 0.98; and the internal consistency was 0.95 for the scale and was in range 0.80–0.93 for its dimensions (Zang & Sheng, 2010).…”

Section: The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Internet‐based support program on parenting outcomes for Chinese primiparous women: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Zheng

Huang

Journal of Advanced Nursing

et al. 2020

Aim To evaluate the effects of internet‐based support program for primiparous women in terms of improving the levels of maternal self‐efficacy, social support, and satisfaction; and reducing their postpartum depression symptoms. Design A single‐blinded, multicentre, randomized, controlled, parallel‐group pre‐test and repeated post‐test design. Methods Based on the self‐efficacy theory and the social exchange theory, the internet‐based support program has five modules: (a) learning forum of parenting knowledge and skills; (b) communication forum; (c) ask‐the‐expert forum; (d) baby home forum; and (e) reminder forum. Primiparous women will be recruited in the obstetric wards of two university‐affiliated hospitals in China. The participants (N = 258) will be randomly allocated to the intervention group that receive routine care and access to the internet‐based support program and the control group that receive routine care during the 3 months postpartum. Maternal self‐efficacy, social support, and postpartum depression symptoms will be measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention (post‐test 1) and 3 months after the intervention (post‐test 2). The study was funded in January 2018 and was ethically approved in May 2020. Discussion If the internet‐based support program has positive outcomes, it will contribute to the scientific and practical knowledge of nursing interventions to support primiparous women on parenting; and could become the routine health care for health professionals to enhance parenting ability and mental well‐being of new mothers. Impact As the first RCT study on parenting outcomes using a rigorous research design and a theoretical framework in China, this research will contribute to evidence on the effectiveness of using internet platform to support women after childbirth. The results could help to advance research about the use of internet‐based intervention methods to improve women's maternal self‐efficacy, social support, satisfaction, and to alleviate depression symptoms. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2000033154