Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39984893›Full record

Trial reportBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025

"I'm not alone": perinatal women's experiences in an online self-directed program for perinatal anxiety.

Light Uchechukwu, Madison P Hardman, Isabelle Hadley, Megan E Gornik, Sarah K Petty, Teaghan A M Pryor, Gillian M Alcolado, Patricia Furer, Kristin A Reynolds

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04844138 (Evaluating a Self-Directed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy E-Health and M-Health Program for Anxiety in Pregnancy and Postpartum During COVID-19), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04844138 nacompletednot on this map

Evaluating a Self-Directed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy E-Health and M-Health Program for Anxiety in Pregnancy and Postpartum During COVID-19

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of ManitobaRan2021 to 2022Enrolled95ConditionsPerinatal Anxiety, Perinatal DepressionArmsOvercoming Anxiety in Pregnancy and Postpartum Online Self-Directed Program
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Light UchechukwuDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Madison P HardmanDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Isabelle HadleyDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Megan E GornikDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Sarah K PettyDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Teaghan A M PryorDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Gillian M AlcoladoDepartment of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Patricia FurerDepartment of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Kristin A ReynoldsDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Kristin.Reynolds@umanitoba.ca.

Funding

Research Manitoba 53294
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnxiety is highly prevalent during pregnancy and postpartum, and access to treatment can be difficult due to a range of barriers (e.g., time, distance, and service availability). Online treatments have the potential to circumvent these barriers and may, therefore, be beneficial for the perinatal population. The present study leveraged qualitative methods to understand participants' perspectives on their use of a six-module online self-directed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) program for perinatal anxiety as part of a randomized controlled trial.

methodsA mixed qualitative method design was used for this study. A total of 95 perinatal women were randomized to an intervention or waitlist control condition for an online self-directed program (Overcoming Perinatal Anxiety; OPA). Both waitlist and intervention participants provided open-ended feedback on each module via online surveys. A subset of individuals (n = 20) assigned to the intervention condition completed a virtual qualitative interview about their experiences using the program. Data obtained from open-ended survey questions and qualitative interviews were analyzed using Conventional Content Analysis (open-ended survey) and Reflexive Thematic Analysis (interviews).

resultsOpen-ended survey data were categorized into three themes, with associated sub-themes: User experience (subthemes: accessibility and modality), Perceptions of content (sub-themes: validating, informative, hopeful, anxiety-inducing, emotionally "heavy", and helpful), and Barriers to program engagement (subthemes: lack of time and energy, technical difficulties, challenging and external factors). Qualitative interview data were categorized into the following main themes, with associated subthemes: Tensions in engaging with the self-directed program (subthemes: connecting and multi-tasking, "finding the time," module length and pacing, pen to paper, and "thanks for the reminder but don't rush me"), "I'm not alone," (subthemes: relating to the content, sharing anxiety with "inner circle," and voicing a desire to connect with other "moms feeling the same way"), and "I'm managing my anxiety" (subthemes: "understanding my anxiety," using "strategies to help with my anxiety," "taking time for myself," and moving forward).

conclusionFindings highlight that online self-directed treatment can be an acceptable and feasible option for perinatal anxiety. Findings show promise for the scalability of OPA to improve access to psychological treatment for perinatal people experiencing anxiety.

trial registrationClinical Trial Identifier: NCT04844138 (clinicaltrials.gov). Trial registration submitted: [April 5, 2021] accepted: [April 14, 2021].

Indexed as

AnxietyCognitive Behavioral TherapyPregnancy ComplicationsPregnant PeopleAdultFemaleHumansInternetInternet-Based InterventionPerinatal CarePregnancyQualitative ResearchSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAnxietyCBTOnline programPerinatalPostpartumPrenatalQualitativeSelf-directed

Identifiers

PMID39984893
PMCPMC11846167

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.