Adedamola Falana (Dami) is a research assistant (RA) on the Digital Assessment of Wellbeing in New Parents (DAWN-P) study. Here, Dami talks about what it’s been like to work on the project, particularly when recruiting participants.

I have spent the past year working on this project with a multidisciplinary academic and clinical team. It has been one of the most exciting journeys of my adult life, and every day I wake up excited to be a part of the project.

The project

The DAWN-P study is made up of three different projects:

• a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT);
• a sub-study with partners of pregnant people;
• a health care professionals’ sub-study.

The study aims to examine if the CareLoop PND smartphone app can screen for postnatal depression in women/birthing people and their partners during late pregnancy and early postpartum period. We hope that it will help identify who needs help on time.

Working on this project gave me confirmation about what sparked my interest when I applied for the role. It is an innovative solution to a mental health challenge that I have witnessed coming from the part of the world where postnatal depression is often overlooked.

My major contribution to the project was to recruit pregnant participants from community maternity clinics at GP surgeries, Sure Start Centres, and community centres in Manchester to meet our participant target of 50 for that site by the end of the recruitment period. The participating NHS Trust was Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).

Recruitment experience

I started working as a RA for the study in April 2023, and the project opened to participants that summer.

I remember how my impostor syndrome and anxiety crept in slowly as I approached my first GP surgery in July. I gave myself a pep talk outside so that I could do it. I spoke to about four pregnant people and got just two contact details. I considered it a small win, and felt motivated to visit another clinic the next day, where I had more luck.

Unfortunately, the first 15 participants I recruited for the study ended up not participating. It was a learning experience for me. I reflected on my encounters with them and recorded why they declined to take part. Each month, I successfully reached the recruitment target for the MFT site and enrolled participants in the study.

I explored many parts of Manchester with public transport and interacted with a diverse group of individuals in the clinics. The public transport system in Manchester was reliable for commuting to all the clinics I visited. I looked forward to the visits because I moved to Manchester for the role and was adjusting to the city.

I had a great time conversing with expectant individuals and midwives, gaining insights into pregnancy. I learned a lot about different cultural norms regarding birth and mental health. Additionally, I gained insight into people’s thoughts on using digital health technologies. The time I spent in the clinics developed my interpersonal skills tremendously when I liaised with the midwives. I can confidently say that my knowledge of pregnancy and perinatal health has increased. 

The success of recruiting at the Manchester clinics led to me being assigned to recruit at our second site in Merseyside. My task was to recruit in a busy hospital, which was a completely new experience.

In Manchester, I interacted with one midwife during my clinic visit which was anxiety-inducing for me. However, I had to interact with a team of midwives at the same time in Merseyside.  I consider the recruitment at Merseyside an exposure exercise because it reduced my anxiety and I adapted to the busy environment.

The commute to Whiston Hospital, Rainhill was easy with the train, and it was 30 minutes from Deansgate Station. The public transportation was efficient, and I visited the clinic every week from January 2024 until the end of recruitment in March 2024.

 An exciting part of recruiting from that site was seeing the nuances between the two sites and reporting back to my mangers. We solved our recruitment challenges by creating solutions to the problems I identified.

Reflection

Looking back at the first time I visited a clinic in July 2023, I am so proud of how far I have come with my confidence and interpersonal skills. I am glad to have contributed to the project and supported it to meet the recruitment target.

The journey around Manchester clinics and the travel to Merseyside allowed me to meet diverse people. It was a big cultural exchange, and I will carry the stories and memories with me forever. The experience has shaped my career, and the skills I developed have made me a more culturally competent researcher.

I am excited about the possibility of working on another project where I can transfer the skills I gained working on the DAWN-P study.

Recruitment tips

Recruiting is a daunting task, especially in fast paced environment. You must be assertive and self-motivated to carry out the task.

It is important to see every interaction with clinicians and service users as a learning opportunity. Listen to their concerns and use their feedback to develop the study.

Finally, discuss your concerns with your line manager during supervision, and seek guidance when you encounter difficulties. Be open-minded and be kind to yourself throughout the process.

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