EPDS-Inuktitut

Essential Software Development Inc.

About this app

EPDS-Inuktitut is a culturally adapted and validated mobile screening application designed to support healthcare providers and patients in completing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in Inuktitut. The application provides a structured and accessible way for individuals to complete the screening assessment while ensuring that results can be reviewed by healthcare professionals in a clear and organized format.

This application was developed to support the delivery of perinatal mental health screening in for Inuit patients from Nunavik where Inuktitut is widely spoken. The app presents culturally adapted and validated questionnaire content with regional dialect options, allowing patients to complete the screening in the dialect most familiar to them.


Key Features

Dialect Selection
Users can select between supported Inuktitut dialects spoken in Nunavik before starting the screening. This ensures that the questionnaire is presented in the appropriate language variant for the user’s region.

Guided Screening Process
The application presents the 12-item EPDS-Inuktitut questionnaire in a clear, step-by-step format. Each question is displayed individually to help users focus on one response at a time while progressing through the assessment.

12-Question Screening Survey
The screening includes the translated versions of the original 10 EPDS questions along with two additional culturally specific questions pertaining to social aspects of how perinatal depression is expressed by Inuit women. Users select one response for each question before moving to the next.

Audio Playback Support
Audio playback options allow users to listen to the introduction and screening questions in Inuktitut. This feature improves accessibility and supports users who prefer listening to the questions in their mother tongue rather than reading them in either Inuktitut syllabics, roman orthography or the English back translation.

Progress Tracking
The application displays the current question number and overall progress so users know where they are in the screening process.

Automated Score Calculation
After completing the screening questions, the system automatically calculates the total score based on the questionnaire responses. Both the standard EPDS score and extended screening score are displayed.

Risk Level Classification
Results are categorized into clinically recognized risk levels (Low, Moderate, or High) based on the standard EPDS scoring guidelines. This provides healthcare providers with a quick overview of the screening outcome.

Detailed Response Review
Healthcare providers can review a full breakdown of each question, the selected response, and the corresponding score to support clinical evaluation.

Patient Information Recording
Healthcare staff can enter identifying details such as patient name and assessment date to associate the results with the appropriate individual.

Clinical Notes Support
Providers can add or edit clinical notes related to the screening results. These notes help document observations, follow-up actions, or additional context related to the assessment.

Clear Completion Workflow
Once the survey is finished, the application confirms completion and allows the device to be returned to the healthcare provider for review.

Important Notice
EPDS-Inuktitut is a screening tool intended to assist healthcare professionals in identifying possible signs of perinatal depression. It is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace professional medical assessment. Individuals who receive elevated scores should consult a qualified healthcare professional for further evaluation and support.