Policy and practice in the managment of postnatal depression in Scotland

Alder, E.M., Reid, M.E., Sharp, L. , Cantwell, R., Robertson, K. and Kearney, E. (2008) Policy and practice in the managment of postnatal depression in Scotland. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 11(3), pp. 213-219. (doi: 10.1007/s00737-008-0015-8)

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Abstract

To investigate current policy and practice in postnatal depression in Scotland and to consider how effectively guidelines were addressed. A questionnaire survey of all National Health Service Boards in Scotland between September 2003 and February 2004 to determine what written policies for postnatal depression were in place as at September 2003. This was followed by a questionnaire survey of a representative sample of general practices in Scotland to determine the routine procedures in use for managing postnatal depression in general practice primary care teams. NHS Boards and general practices in Scotland, UK. Forty-seven per cent of policies and 68% of General Practices had implemented the majority of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network 60 evidence based recommendations. Practices were more likely than NHS Boards to have addressed a higher percentage of the recommendations (p<0.05). Practices were more likely to implement antenatal screening for a history of puerperal psychosis if they were within NHS Boards that recommend this as routine practice. Practices within NHS Boards that had in-patient facilities for mother and baby admissions were more likely to identify these services as a treatment option than in the areas where the NHS Boards indicated the facilities were unavailable. Board guidance did not relate significantly to the likelihood of practices following the other evidence-based recommendations. Minimum standards represented by the SIGN 60 evidence-based recommendations were mostly followed in both policy and practice. If Board policy followed guidelines, the guidelines were more likely to be implemented at primary care level.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Robertson, Dr Kenneth and Reid, Professor Margaret and Sharp, Dr Laura and Cantwell, Dr Roch
Authors: Alder, E.M., Reid, M.E., Sharp, L., Cantwell, R., Robertson, K., and Kearney, E.
Subjects:R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
Journal Name:Archives of Women's Mental Health
ISSN:1434-1816
ISSN (Online):1435-1102

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