Date of this Version
12-1-2025
Document Type
DNP Project
Abstract
Background: Within obstetric care settings, depression and anxiety remain two of the most common yet often underrecognized and undertreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. As perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can significantly influence maternal and infant health, prompt identification and treatment is crucial. However, obstetric providers frequently lack the formal education and training needed to recognize, diagnose, and treat perinatal depression and anxiety. To address these gaps and improve provider knowledge and screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, educational interventions can be used.
Methods: For this quality improvement project, an educational intervention on perinatal depression and anxiety was developed and implemented at a private obstetrics and gynecology practice. The intervention, which consisted of a 20-minute voiceover PowerPoint module, provided a comprehensive overview of perinatal depression and anxiety, including the clinical manifestations, adverse outcomes, diagnosis, and treatment of each mental health condition. To evaluate the impact of the educational intervention on obstetric providers’ knowledge and screening practices for perinatal depression and anxiety, a pretest-posttest design was utilized.
Results: Based on the findings obtained, results demonstrated the educational module was effective in improving obstetric providers’ knowledge of perinatal depression and anxiety, with higher posttest scores obtained when compared to pretest scores. Similarly, obstetric providers’ self-reported screening practices demonstrated a positive shift, with 82% of participants indicating changes or improvements in screening for perinatal depression and anxiety at the private obstetrics and gynecology practice.
Discussion: A brief, online educational module improved both obstetric providers’ knowledge and self-reported screening practices for perinatal depression and anxiety. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted education and training for obstetric providers on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, as provider knowledge and screening gaps are evident within obstetric care settings. To address these gaps, educational interventions can be used to improve obstetric providers’ knowledge and screening for perinatal depression and anxiety.
Recommended Citation
Sanchez, Kiara, "An Educational Intervention for Obstetric Providers to Enhance Knowledge and Improve Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Screening: A Quality Improvement Project" (2025). Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects. 381.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cnhs-studentprojects/381