Women's health care providers' attitudes toward research in pregnancy

To evaluate women's health care providers' attitudes towards research in pregnancy.

An online, anonymous survey given to health care providers and personnel directly involved in the care of pregnant women at 3 hospitals. The survey ascertained research involvement and attitudes toward both research in general and research on pregnant women.

One hundred thirty-one people responded to the survey (27%). The majority of health care providers supported research, with 83.2% encouraging pregnant women to participate in a research study. However, there was a consistent difference between their attitudes toward encouraging others to participate while pregnant and whether or not they would consent themselves or have their partner consent to participate in research while pregnant.

While women's health care workers are generally supportive of research in pregnancy, a discrepancy exists between what they would encourage others to do and what they would do. In order to promote recruitment of pregnant women into research studies, education of all health care workers involved in pregnant women's care should be a major focus.