PURPOSE: Despite the availability of screening tools for postpartum depression (PPD), there is a general consensus that the condition is underdiagnosed. This study was conducted to determine how frequently family physicians screen for PPD, what methods they use to screen, and what influences their screening frequency. METHODS: A survey of members of the Washington Academy of Family Physicians was conducted. Three hundred sixty-two (60.9%) mailed surveys were returned. The 298 physicians who saw postpartum women and children younger than 1 year of age were included in the study. RESULTS: Of the study population, 70.2% always or often screened for PPD at postpartum gynecologic examinations, and 46% always or often screened mothers at well-child visits. Of those who screened, 30.6% reported using a validated screening tool. Of those, only 18% used a tool specifically designed to screen for PPD. Logistic regression modeling showed that female sex [odds ratio (OR) = 2.2], training in PPD during residency (OR = 8.1), training in PPD through medical literature (OR = 2.1), and agreement that postpartum depression is common enough to warrant screening (OR = 1.9) were all significantly associated with more frequent screening at postpartum gynecologic visits. Agreement that screening takes too much effort was associated with less frequent screening (OR = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Although family physicians believe that PPD is serious, identifiable, and treatable; screening is not universal and use of screening tools designed for PPD is uncommon. Training in postpartum depression and female sex are the variables most strongly associated with frequent screening.
PURPOSE: Despite the availability of screening tools for postpartum depression (PPD), there is a general consensus that the condition is underdiagnosed. This study was conducted to determine how frequently family physicians screen for PPD, what methods they use to screen, and what influences their screening frequency. METHODS: A survey of members of the Washington Academy of Family Physicians was conducted. Three hundred sixty-two (60.9%) mailed surveys were returned. The 298 physicians who saw postpartum women and children younger than 1 year of age were included in the study. RESULTS: Of the study population, 70.2% always or often screened for PPD at postpartum gynecologic examinations, and 46% always or often screened mothers at well-child visits. Of those who screened, 30.6% reported using a validated screening tool. Of those, only 18% used a tool specifically designed to screen for PPD. Logistic regression modeling showed that female sex [odds ratio (OR) = 2.2], training in PPD during residency (OR = 8.1), training in PPD through medical literature (OR = 2.1), and agreement that postpartum depression is common enough to warrant screening (OR = 1.9) were all significantly associated with more frequent screening at postpartum gynecologic visits. Agreement that screening takes too much effort was associated with less frequent screening (OR = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Although family physicians believe that PPD is serious, identifiable, and treatable; screening is not universal and use of screening tools designed for PPD is uncommon. Training in postpartum depression and female sex are the variables most strongly associated with frequent screening.
Authors: Whitney P Witt; Lauren E Wisk; Erika R Cheng; John M Hampton; Paul D Creswell; Erika W Hagen; Hilary A Spear; Torsheika Maddox; Thomas Deleire Journal: Womens Health Issues Date: 2011-02-24
Authors: Ian M Bennett; Andrew Coco; James C Coyne; Alex J Mitchell; James Nicholson; Ellen Johnson; Michael Horst; Stephen Ratcliffe Journal: J Am Board Fam Med Date: 2008 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 2.657
Authors: Dwenda Gjerdingen; Scott Crow; Patricia McGovern; Michael Miner; Bruce Center Journal: J Am Board Fam Med Date: 2009 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 2.657
Authors: S Pawils; F Metzner; C Wendt; S Raus; M Shedden-Mora; O Wlodarczyk; M Härter Journal: Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd Date: 2016-08 Impact factor: 2.915