Use of Edinburgh postnatal depression scale for screening of postpartum depression in men in Slovenia

Uvod: Poporodna depresija (PPD) je oblika depresije, ki se pojavi med četrtim tednom in dvanajstim mesecem po rojstvu novorojenca. Dejavniki tveganja za pojav PPD pri očetih so: prisotnost PPD pri partnerici, depresija v preteklosti, nižja stopnja izobrazbe, nižji prihodek in trenutno prestajanje travmatične izkušnje kot so ločitev, resnejša medicinska diagnoza ali izguba bližnjega sorodnika. Mednarodne študije kažejo, da približno 10 % očetov kaže znake PPD v obdobju treh do šestih mesecev po rojstvu novorojenca. Namen: Namen raziskave je pilotno presejati nove očete v Sloveniji na PPD ter dokazati, da je mogoče uporabljati Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) tudi pri moških. Metode dela: Uporabili smo raziskovalno metodo, ki temelji na kvantitativni paradigmi. Presejalno skalo EPDS, ki se trenutno v Sloveniji uporablja samo za presejanje žensk v zgodnjem poporodnem obdobju smo testirali za presejanje moških. Potrebna je bila delna prilagoditev obstoječega inštrumenta. Pridobivanje podatkov je bilo organizirano s pomočjo patronažne službe v Zdravstvenem domu Ljubljana - Črnuče in v Zdravstvenem domu Velenje. Vprašalniki so se zbirali v obdobju med avgustom 2019 in decembrom 2019. Raziskavo je odobrila Komisija za medicinsko etiko Republike Slovenije. Rezultati: Od razdeljenih 80 vprašalnikov, smo jih prejeli 51 (odziv 63 %). Od teh je 8 anketiranih zbralo 12 ali več točk, kar je več kot poročajo tuje raziskave. 0 točk sta zbrala le 2 anketiranca (3,9 %). Za celoten vprašalnik smo izračunali tudi koeficient Cronbach alfa. Želeli smo doseči vrednost koeficienta Cronbach alfa vsaj 0,7. Vrednost koeficienta je bila 0,931, kar pomeni, da je vprašalnik visoko zanesljiv. Omejitev študije je premajhen vzorec, kar pomeni, da generalizacija ni mogoča. Razprava in zaključek: Psihično zdravje očetov je zelo pomemben dejavnik za zdravje družine, mentalno stanje partnerke ter za psihofizični razvoj otroka. V prihodnjih študijah bi bilo treba poudariti pomen sociodemografskih faktorjev, saj bi s tem iskali bolj specifičen del moške populacije, dojemljiv za razvoj PPD ter ga lažje presejali v prihodnje. Upamo, da bomo imeli v bližnji prihodnosti standardiziran presejalni program za ugotavljanje ter zdravljenje PPD tudi pri moških. Vloga babice, medicinske sestre in zdravstvenega tehnika je tukaj ključnega pomena. Z zgodnjim presejanjem bi rizične očete zgodaj napotili na posvet in obravnavo k specialistu ter jim tako omogočili boljše možnosti za ohranjanje psihičnega zdravja.Introduction: Postpartum depression is a sort of depression, which appears between four weeks and 12 months after the childbirth. Risk factors for developing postpartum depression are: presence of postpartum depression in partner, past depressions, lower education level, low income and current traumas (divorce, serious diagnose or grieving over a relative). International studies show that approximately 10 % of new fathers show signs of depression in between three to six months after childbirth. Purpose: The purpose of this research is screening new fathers in Slovenia for postpartum depression and proving that Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale can be used in men also. Methods: We will use the quantitative research method, where we will be researching the number of new fathers who are possibly depressed. For that purpose, we will be using the adapted screening tool called Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. The collection of results was organised with the help from community health nurses at Health centres Ljubljana - Črnuče and Velenje. The questionnaires were being collected between August and December of 2019. Our research was approved by National Medical Ethics Committee Slovenia. Results: Out of 80 distributed questionnaires, we have received 51 answered questionnaires (response rate = 63 %).. In 8 out of 51 men (15,7 %), we had confirmed our suspicion for postpartum depression, which is the most out of the previous researches. In our study, there were only 3,9 % (N=2) of questioned fathers, which have scored 0 points. Our goal was to achieve the Cronbach coefficient alpfa score of 0,7. We have calculated Cronbach coefficient alpha, which was 0,931. This result proves the high reliability of our questionnaire, even for men. The limitation of our study was is the low sample, which means the generalisation of our study is not a possibility. Discussion and conclusion: Mental health of fathers in a very important factor in planning of the family, mental state of his partner and in psychophysical development of the child. We recommend emphasizing the sociodemographic factors for future studies. That would specify the pool of men, which are at greater risk for developing postpartum depression and would also be easier to screen in the future. We are hoping, that in the future, in Slovenia, we will have a standardized screening program for early diagnosing and properly treating postpartum depression in men. Nurses have a very important role in screening men for postpartum depression