University research team examines the long-term mental health benefits of providing Kids Public's "OB/GYN and Pediatrics Online" from the time of pregnancy.
- The following is content from the press release -
(Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Naoya Hashimoto) is pleased to announce the results of a follow-up survey of the "Outcome-Linked Commissioning of the Online Health and Medical Consultation Model Project for Fiscal 2020 and 2021" (hereinafter "the Model Project") conducted by the City of Yokohama.
The research results are based on a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted between 2020 and 2021 in Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Japan, by a team of researchers from Kyoto University, the University of Tokyo, and other institutions (who conducted the previous study) (hereafter referred to as the research team), and published in the international journal Psychological The study was published in the international journal Psychological Medicine.
Long-term effects of mHealth consultation services on postpartum depressive symptoms and the mediating role of loneliness: A follow-up study of a A follow-up study of a randomized controlled trial
Arakawa Y, Inoue K, Haseda M, Nishioka D, Kino S, Nishi D, Hashimoto H, Kondo N. Psychol Med. 2025 Dec 19;55:e379.
[URL
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/longterm-effects-of-mhealth-consultation-services-on-postpartum-depressive-symptoms-and-the-mediating-role-of-loneliness-a-followup-study-of-a-randomized-controlled-trial/928118BF3AE197EF13A1AB9D3686F122
Summary of Research Results
With regard to this model project, we published the effect of reducing the risk of postpartum depression at 3 months postpartum in 2022. The study at that time demonstrated that the provision of telehealth medical consultation from the pregnancy period can reduce the proportion of high risk postpartum depression by 33.5% relative to the proportion of high risk postpartum depression patients.
Reference] Press release announced in 2022
33.51 TP6T reduction in high-risk postpartum depression": Demonstrated as an effect of telehealth medical consultation service (obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics online) - Joint demonstration project with Yokohama City and the University of Tokyo (randomized controlled trial)
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000141.000019477.html
Based on subsequent follow-up studies, the research team has newly found that the effectiveness of the intervention has persisted at one year (12 months) postpartum.
The survey received responses from 515 women, approximately 70% of the initial participants. The results of the analysis revealed that an environment in which mothers can easily consult with obstetricians, pediatricians, and midwives online at any time is a powerful aid in supporting mothers' mental health for as long as one year postpartum.
- Confirmation of effectiveness in preventing long-term worsening of postpartum depression symptoms over the first year postpartum
Providing telehealth medical consultation from pregnancy to 4 months postpartum was shown to reduce postpartum depression high-risk individuals (EPDS ≥ 9 points) by approximately 321 TP6T at 1 year (12 months) postpartum (intervention group: 14.21 TP6T vs. 21.01 TP6T in the control group), indicating the importance of early intervention. The results suggest the importance of early intervention. - Suggests that reducing postpartum "loneliness" is effective in preventing depressive symptoms
By using the method of mediation analysis, we found that the ability to easily consult with medical specialists (obstetricians, pediatricians, and midwives) anytime, anywhere through telehealth medical consultation helped mothers feel a sense of "connection" and contributed to a "decrease in loneliness" at 3 months postpartum and the prevention of the onset of depressive symptoms thereafter. This contributed to a "decrease in loneliness" at 3 months postpartum and to the prevention of the onset of depression. - Prevents serious depressive symptoms from lingering and improves "resilience" from temporary depression
Analysis of the transition patterns of depressive symptoms showed that the provision of this service reduced the percentage of those who sustained serious depressive symptoms at both 3 and 12 months postpartum by less than half compared to the non-provider group. In addition, there was a trend toward increased "ability to recover" from the temporary depression at 3 months postpartum. This finding suggests that early intervention, beginning in pregnancy, is an extremely effective means of preventing prolonged postpartum depressive symptoms.
Social Background and Significance of this Study
The worldwide incidence of postpartum depression is as high as approximately 15% and is a serious social issue in Japan. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face support was limited and mothers became more isolated.
Yokohama City normally provides conventional face-to-face perinatal care provided by the local government to all mothers, but during the COVID-19 epidemic, some services were limited.
The research team's verification of the telehealthcare consultation service, which is distinct from automatic response systems, etc., and involves interactive, real-time dialogue with medical professionals, has shown that it contributes to fostering a sense of security among mothers and alleviating their sense of loneliness. Furthermore, the specific mechanism by which such psychological support results in the prevention of depressive symptoms was statistically clarified.
This study is considered reliable evidence of intervention effectiveness over a long period of time, as long as one year postpartum, as demonstrated by the follow-up of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). In short, the study showed that professional telehealth medical consultation services using SNS platforms can be an effective means of complementing traditional face-to-face care and supporting expectant mothers beyond the constraints of time and place.
Here is the press release by the research team
https://socepi.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp/blogs/9354
glossary
Telehealth Medical Consultation
This is a service that allows health consultations with doctors, midwives, and other medical professionals using information and telecommunications equipment. The service does not involve medical examinations or diagnoses, but mainly provides general medical information, medical consultation recommendations, and listening.
EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Questionnaire)
A globally used screening scale for postpartum depression.
Representative of Obstetrics and Gynecology Online, OB/GYN physician responsible for this demonstration project, Daisuke Shigemi, comments
The previous study showed that online health medical consultation from pregnancy reduces the number of high risk postpartum depression patients at 3 months postpartum, and this follow-up study by the research team has newly found that the effect persists as long as 12 months postpartum. As an obstetrician/gynecologist and project manager, I feel that the fact that the positive effects continue for such a long period of time after the intervention ends is of great social significance.
We believe that this study contains a very important finding from an academic perspective. That is, approximately 20% of the prevention effect of postpartum depression symptoms was brought about by "reduction of loneliness" at 3 months postpartum. The fact that the mechanism that "continuous connection with medical professionals" and "careful response to anxiety" through LINE, etc. prevented psychological isolation of mothers and led to improvement of their mental health one year later, rather than merely providing information, should be significant in considering effective support for expectant mothers and mothers. This should be significant in considering effective support for expectant mothers and mothers.
The study also analyzed the transition pattern of depressive symptoms, and confirmed that the provision of online health medical consultation reduced the "persistent type" of prolonged symptoms and shifted to the "resilient type," in which good mental health is easily maintained. This indicates that early online support measures can prevent prolonged postpartum depression symptoms and serve as a safety net for a healthy life for both mother and child.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the City of Yokohama for their cooperation in this survey, to the research team for their continued rigorous evaluation, and most of all to the study participants who responded to the survey over a 12-month period amidst their busy child-rearing schedules. We will continue to do our best to provide a high-quality support system based on the evidence obtained from this study so that as many women as possible who face pregnancy and childbirth with anxiety and work hard to raise their children can remain healthy.
About "Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics Online
Obstetrics & Gynecology/Pediatrics Online" is a remote health medical consultation service that allows users to consult with obstetricians, pediatricians, and midwives 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, from anywhere via smartphone or other devices.
The greatest feature is the "quality and safety of medical care," and only obstetricians, pediatricians, and midwives, all of whom have at least three years of clinical experience, are assigned to deal with the patients.
In addition, a specialized team of medical professionals is in place to evaluate and improve all consultations in terms of both "medical appropriateness" and "user experience," maintaining a high level of user satisfaction.
Since the service was launched in 2016, the number of consultations has exceeded 300,000. Based on this accumulated data, we have also focused on academic research and writing papers, and are constantly verifying and demonstrating that our services are "truly useful" based on evidence.
