%0 Journal Article
%@ 2561-326X
%I JMIR Publications
%V 5
%N 11
%P e30995
%T Integrating SMS Text Messages Into a Preventive Intervention for Postpartum Depression Delivered via In-Home Visitation Programs: Feasibility and Acceptability Study
%A Barrera,Alinne Z
%A Hamil,Jaime
%A Tandon,Darius
%+ Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, United States, 1 6504333854, abarrera@paloaltou.edu
%K perinatal mental health
%K postpartum depression
%K public health
%K SMS
%K technology
%D 2021
%7 18.11.2021
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Form Res
%G English
%X Background: The Mothers and Babies (MB) Course is recognized by the US Preventive Services Task Force as an evidence-based preventive intervention for postpartum depression (PPD) that should be recommended to pregnant women at risk for PPD. Objective: This report examines the feasibility and acceptability of enhancing the MB 1-on-1 intervention by adding 36 SMS text messages that target 3 areas: reinforcement of skills, between-session homework reminders, and responding to self-monitoring texts (ie, MB Plus Text Messaging [MB-TXT]). Methods: In partnership with 9 home visiting programs, 28 ethnically and racially diverse pregnant women (mean 25.6, SD 9.0 weeks) received MB-TXT. Feasibility was defined by home visitors’ adherence to logging into the HealthySMS platform to enter session data and trigger SMS text messages within 7 days of the in-person session. The acceptability of MB-TXT was measured by participants’ usefulness and understanding ratings of the SMS text messages and responses to the self-monitoring SMS text messages. Results: On average, home visitors followed the study protocol and entered session-specific data between 5.50 and 61.17 days following the MB 1-on-1 sessions. A high proportion of participants responded to self-monitoring texts (25/28, 89%) and rated the text message content as very useful and understandable. Conclusions: This report contributes to a growing body of research focusing on digital adaptations of the MB course. SMS is a low-cost, accessible digital tool that can be integrated into existing interventions. With appropriate resources to support staff, it can be implemented in community-based organizations and health care systems that serve women at risk for PPD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03420755; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03420755 
%M 34792478
%R 10.2196/30995
%U https://formative.jmir.org/2021/11/e30995
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/30995
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34792478