title: Effectiveness of the 'Home-but not Alone' mobile health application educational programme on parental outcomes: a randomized controlled trial, study protocol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe a study protocol that evaluates the effectiveness of the 'Home-but not Alone' educational programme delivered via a mobile health application in improving parenting outcomes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The development in mobile-based technology gives us the opportunity to develop an accessible educational programme that can be potentially beneficial to new parents. However, there is a scarcity of theory-based educational programmes that have incorporated technology such as a mobile health application in the early postpartum period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial with a two-group pre-test and post-test design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data will be collected from 118 couples. Eligible parents will be randomly allocated to either a control group (receiving routine care) or an intervention group (routine care plus access to the 'Home-but not Alone' mobile health application. Outcome measures comprise of parenting self-efficacy, social support, parenting satisfaction and postnatal depression. Data will be collected at the baseline (on the day of discharge) and at four weeks postpartum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This will be an empirical study that evaluates a theory-based educational programme delivered via an innovative mobile health application on parental outcomes. Results from this study will enhance parenting self-efficacy, social support and parenting satisfaction, which may then reduce parental risks of postnatal depression.
authors.affiliation: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors.forename: Shefaly
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5583-2814
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shorey
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yvonne Peng Mei
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Centre for Innovative Medical Technology Institute of Clinical Research, The Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Dorthe Boe
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Danbjørg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Cindy-Lee
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Linkoping University, Norrkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Evalotte
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morelius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: educational programme; mobile health application; nursing/midwifery; parenting satisfaction; parenting self-efficacy; postnatal depression; postnatal period; social support