The role of an advanced practice midwife in perinatal mental health: Outlining the process of role development and implementation.

Perinatal mental health disorders (PMDs) are a global health concern. In industrialized countries, the prevalence of PMDs is estimated to be 20%, and they are associated with serious negative effects for women, their children and their families, along with high societal costs related to long-term impacts. In Switzerland, the PMD detection rate during obstetrical healthcare provision is very low (1-3%), and specialized healthcare services are limited. This study aimed to develop and implement an advanced practice midwife (APM) role at a Swiss obstetrics and gynecology hospital using the PEPPA framework to provide adequate screening and first-consultation services. The study uses a qualitative approach and follows the research stages using the 8-step from the participatory, evidence-based, patient-focused process for advanced practice nursing role development, implementation and evaluation (PEPPA) framework to develop and implement the APM role. Utilizing the PEPPA framework, we were able to develop, implement, and evaluate the APM role in the field of perinatal mental health. Through appropriate screening and first-consultation services, we were able to identify affected women early and facilitate treatment. In addition to stakeholder engagement and interprofessional collaboration, PEPPA serves as a beneficial framework for the process of role development, implementation, and evaluation in the midwifery profession. This study aims to assist midwives with Master's degrees in establishing corresponding roles within their practice areas, thereby enhancing care delivery. Furthermore, the current APM approach is intended to be continuously evaluated to gain new insights into its effectiveness.

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© 2024 Sutter L. et al.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors have each completed and submitted an ICMJE form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. The authors declare that they have no competing interests, financial or otherwise, related to the current work. S. Walther reports that he has an R01 grant for research in depression from the National Institute of Health, 2 project grants for research in schizophrenia from the Swiss National Science Foundation, a grant for research in depression from the Era-Net Neuron Program, and a grant for research on suicide prevention from the Swiss Health Promotion Foundation. He also reports that he has payments or honoraria for lectures from: Mepha, Neurolite, and Lundbeck.