title: Baby Steps - An Online Program Promoting the Well-Being of New Mothers and Fathers: A Study Protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parental well-being can be seriously impacted during the challenging perinatal period. Most research and support services focus on perinatal psychopathology, leaving a need for programs that recognize and enhance the strengths and well-being of parents. Furthermore, fathers have received minimal attention and support relative to mothers, despite experiencing perinatal distress. New parents have limited time and energy to invest in program attendance, and web-based programs provide an ideal platform for delivering perinatal well-being programs. Such programs are globally accessible, available at any time, and can be accessed anywhere with an Internet connection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper describes the protocol of a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects on first-time parents' perinatal well-being, comparing two versions of the online program Baby Steps.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical trial will randomize 240 primiparous mother-father couples to either (1) Babycare, an online information-only program providing tips on selected childcare issues, or (2) Well-being, an online interactive program including all content from the Babycare program, plus parental well-being-focused content with tools for goal-setting and problem solving. Both programs will be supported by short message service (SMS) texts at two, four, seven, and ten weeks to encourage continued use of the program. Primary outcomes will be measures of perinatal distress and quality of life. Secondary outcomes will be couple relationship satisfaction, parent self-efficacy, and social support. Cost-effectiveness will also be measured for each Baby Steps program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participant recruitment commenced March, 2015 and continued until October, 2015. Follow-up data collection has commenced and will be completed May, 2016 with results expected in July, 2016.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perinatal distress has substantial impacts on parents and their infants, with potential to affect later childhood adjustment, relationships, and development. This study aims to test the impact of a highly accessible online program to support parental coping, and maximize the well-being of both parents. By including fathers in the program, Baby Steps has the potential to engage and support this often neglected group who can make a substantial contribution to familial well-being.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian & New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ANZCTR12614001256662; https://www.anzctr.org.au/ Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=367277 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ibUsjFIL).
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Kyra
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9975-685X
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: David
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9072-8828
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0585-5019
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7309-1044
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Jane
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1959-6807
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Kim
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9645-9147
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Halford
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4550-8460
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hides
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4082-4595
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milgrom
authors.forename: Heather
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3664-6167
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Davina
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6523-783X
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5931-642X
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Scuffham
authors.forename: Dian
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7446-2839
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tjondronegoro
authors.forename: Anne
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3064-6350
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0345-4724
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Anja
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3806-0183
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wittkowski
keywords: Fathers; Mental Health; Mothers; Online Intervention; Perinatal; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trial; Wellbeing