Well-woman care among obstetrician-gynecologists: opportunity for preconception care

To describe the practices of obstetrician-gynecologists who provide routine gynecological care and assess the relative importance of well-woman care to their training and practices.

A questionnaire was mailed to 1000 members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, of whom 600 participated in the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network.

The response rate was 57%. Of these, 403 respondents providing routine obstetric and gynecologic care (OB&Gyn) are included. Obstetricians-gynecologists spend the majority of their time on labor/delivery (22%) followed by well-woman care (14%). It was found that 26% of the respondents rarely or never discuss sexual abuse or domestic violence with non-pregnant patients and only 19% always discuss folic acid with non-pregnant patients during well-woman care. Most (71%) say that 50% or more of their pregnant patients initially contact them once they are pregnant. Respondents rated their training in well-woman care least strong of several areas listed.

Obstetrician-gynecologists devote a substantial proportion of work time to providing well-woman care, though some important topics are not addressed and training in this area was rated least strong.