Healing at Home 2.0 - Enhanced Chat Tool for Lowering Postpartum Depression

Healing at Home 2.0 - Enhanced Chat Tool for Lowering Postpartum Depression

The purpose of the study is to determine if access to a text-message based holistic chatbot support program "Healing at Home 2.0" decreases depressive symptoms as measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) compared to usual postpartum care for patients of color.

Healing at Home (H@H) 2.0 is a comprehensive technology-based postpartum support program which provides 24/7 support to individuals through use of an SMS chatbot for six weeks postpartum. This will be a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with an intervention arm consisting of patients who are planning to be discharged at routine timing (as determined by their clinical team) with access to H@H 2.0 postpartum SMS chatbot platform and a control arm which consists of usual postpartum care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Postpartum patients who have delivered a singleton baby at or after 37w0d at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
• Self-identify as a person of color (listed on chart as non-White race and confirmed with patient)
• Able to speak, read and write English
• Age ≥18
• Prenatal care at outpatient practice affiliated with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
• Completion of clinically administered EPDS during inpatient stay
• Routine discharge timing, day 2 or more after vaginal delivery, day 3 or more after cesarean delivery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to provide informed consent
• Baby not discharged with mother at postpartum discharge
• Does not have access to a mobile phone