Screening for recommended antenatal risk factors: How long does it take?

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Effective detection and management of antenatal risk factors are essential for high-quality maternal care.
• Australian antenatal guidelines recommend screening for various health factors during pregnancy.
• Understanding women's perspectives and the time required for care is crucial for optimizing antenatal services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To ascertain pregnant women's preferences regarding the timing of antenatal risk factor screening.
• To evaluate the time investment necessary for delivering recommended antenatal care based on clinical scenarios.
• To inform the development of efficient antenatal care protocols.

Main Methods:

• Phase 1 involved surveying pregnant women on their preferred timing for antenatal risk factor screening.
• Phase 2 utilized a video-recorded clinical scenario to measure the time for discussing and managing risk factors.
• Data were collected from women attending an outpatient obstetrics clinic at a public hospital.

Main Results:

• 96% of women preferred to be asked about all risk factors at their initial antenatal visit.
• The total time to inquire about all risk factors was 52 minutes, with clinical factors taking longer than lifestyle factors.
• An average of 60 minutes is required per woman to detect and offer assistance for managing antenatal risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Pregnant women are receptive to discussing antenatal risk factors but the screening process is lengthy.
• There is a need for streamlined clinical processes and prioritized recommendations to ensure time-efficient yet comprehensive antenatal care.
• Special attention is required for managing women with multiple risk factors or those needing ongoing monitoring.