Clayton Shuman, PhD, assistant professor in the U-M School of Nursing, joins this episode of Michigan Minds to talk about his research focusing on reducing health disparities and improving care for vulnerable populations. He also discusses the significance of recognizing National Nurses Week, which is celebrated May 6-12.
“Nurses are vital members of the health care team. They also make up the largest proportion of health care workers, and have long been trusted by the public. So I’m very proud to be a nurse and involved in nursing research, as well as the training of the next generation of nurses, nursing leaders, and scientists. And although the pandemic has certainly highlighted the impact that nurses have, we must remember that nurses also greatly impact population and global health well before the pandemic and into the future.”
In his research, Shuman utilizes science frameworks and methods to improve the care of vulnerable populations and reduce health disparities. He says that extensive scientific discovery and testing is conducted every year, but the implementation into real-world settings could be improved so more patients can benefit from the work.
Shuman explains a study he authored in which it was found that postpartum depression rates tripled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was developed early in the pandemic. The surge in COVID cases resulted in unprecedented changes to how maternal and infant services were provided, he says.
“Prior to the pandemic, rates of postpartum depression in the US were around one in eight, according to the CDC. In our sample, we found the rate of positive screens for postpartum depression to be one in three. Due to our study design and sample, there are significant limitations that must be taken into account; however, our findings are kind of like a smoke detector. They signal that something concerning is happening and we must give it attention.”
The paper also highlighted many challenges postpartum patients faced during the pandemic, such as a lack of social and emotional support, removal of many coping mechanisms, and reduced resources.
“Overall, we noted that participants were experiencing high levels of distress, and in fact, some were experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Health care systems and clinicians are encouraged to take note of these concerning findings, and seek ways to improve identification, treatment, and recovery from maternal mental illness. This recommendation not only applies to those who delivered an infant during the pandemic, but for all pregnant patients moving forward. Because even though we are beginning to see dramatic increases in maternal mental illness, the rates were still relatively high outside of the pandemic context,” Shuman says.
He adds that perinatal mental illness is a critical concern in the US and that work needs to be done to reduce the stigma associated with it to help “improve the health and wellbeing of mothers, infants, families, and communities.”
