Project ECHO in Psychiatric Workforce Development: the Example of a Perinatal Mental Health ECHO

• Published in: Academic psychiatry Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 249 - 253
• Main Authors: Ramaraj, Akila B., Franz, Natalie A., Bhat, Amritha, Adachi, Jamie, Quiray, Joanne A., Bespalova, Nadejda, Duncan, Mark H., Cowley, Deborah S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-06-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Behavioral Objectives; Bipolar disorder; Breastfeeding & lactation; Confidence; Didacticism; Drug use; Experiential Learning; Female; Humans; In Brief Report; Interviews; Learning Theories; Medical Education; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental Disorders; Mental health; Mental Health Services; Midwifery; Narcotics; Obstetrics; Obstetrics - education; Perinatal Care; Pregnancy; Primary care; Primary Health Care; Professionals; Psychiatry; Psychiatry - education; Psychosis; Psychotropic drugs; Qualitative Research; Social workers; Staff Development; Substance abuse treatment; Substance use disorder; Substance-Related Disorders; Project ECHO; Women’s mental health; Workforce development; Reproductive psychiatry
• ISSN: 1042-9670; 1545-7230
• DOI: 10.1007/s40596-023-01917-z

Objective
Perinatal mental health and substance use disorders (PMHSUD) often go unrecognized and untreated. This study examined the use of the Project ECHO model to teach obstetric, primary care, and mental health clinicians about screening, diagnosis, and treatment of PMHSUD.
Methods
Participants in 3 years of the University of Washington’s Moms’ Access Project (MAP) ECHO program (2019–2022) completed pre- and post-program surveys. Nine participants in year 1 completed qualitative interviews. Dedoose was used for qualitative analysis of interviews.
Results
Of 136 participants, 62.5% (15/24) completed both pre- and post-surveys in year 1, 56% (28/50) in year 2, and 32.2% (20/62) in year 3. Most respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they were glad to have participated (96.8%; 60/62) and that they had used information learned in the program in treating a patient (95.1%; 58/61). In all years, respondents endorsed increased confidence regarding learning objectives of the program. Qualitative interviews following year 1 yielded themes of hierarchy of competence, motivation versus results of participation, connection, and politics of change: position and practice type.
Conclusions
Findings supported the feasibility, acceptability, and self-reported effectiveness of the ECHO model for workforce development in PMHSUD.