Poster Presentation Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society and Society of Obstetric Medicine Australia and New Zealand Joint Scientific Meeting 2021

Addressing healthcare provider knowledge about the long-term disease sequelae after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (#83)

Veronica Morcos 1 , Heike Roth 2 , Caroline SE Homer 2 3 , Amanda Henry 1 4 , Lynne Roberts 4 5
  1. School of Women’s and Children’s Health, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, Australia
  2. Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW
  3. Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne
  4. Women’s and Children’s Health, St George Hospital, Sydney
  5. St George and Sutherland Clinical School UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) including preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and chronic hypertension affect 5-10% of pregnancies. There are short and long-term consequences for women following HDP, with long-term effects including increased risk of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and renal disease, and type 2 diabetes. There is limited knowledge of potential long-term HDP effects amongst healthcare providers (HCP)s, and there exists no guidelines on how to design an educational package. This study aimed to assess HCP requirements and recommendations for an educational package on post-HDP health.

Method: Semi-structured telephone interviews, employing a qualitative thematic approach. HCPs who had completed an online survey in 2019 were invited to participate. Interviews were completed April-May 2020 and were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis techniques.

Results: Twenty HCPs participated; 11 midwives, 5 obstetricians, 3 general practitioners with an obstetric diploma and 1 cardiologist. Three overarching themes were noted: ‘Materials’ (sub-categorised into content, format and distribution of the educational package), ‘Enablers’ and ‘Barriers’ (both sub-categorised into ‘Acquisition of knowledge’ and ‘Transmission of knowledge’). Major preferences for materials included content regarding HDP, long-term risks and recommendations on referral and long-term pathways. HCPs recommended case-based learning in a multidisciplinary format and distribution through professional bodies. ‘Enablers to the acquisition of knowledge’ included personal experience and ease of access to resources. ‘Enablers to the transmission of knowledge’ to other HCP and women involved interdisciplinary collaboration and appropriate timing of discussion. ‘Barriers to the acquisition of knowledge’ included obstacles to accessing resources. Perceived ‘Barriers to the transmission of knowledge’ included maternal health literacy and limited awareness of the importance to educate women.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that HCP education packages should address HDP’s long-term risks in a case-based, multidisciplinary format distributed through professional bodies. Enablers can be accentuated, and barriers can be addressed to develop a well-tailored educational package.