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

Detection and management of antenatal risk factors is critical for quality care.

To determine (1) women's views about when they should be asked about antenatal health factors as recommended in the Australian antenatal guidelines; and (2) the time required to provide recommended care using a clinical scenario.

In Phase 1, pregnant women attending an outpatient obstetrics clinic at a public hospital were surveyed about preferred screening for antenatal risk factors during visit(s). In Phase 2, a hypothetical clinical scenario of a woman attending her first antenatal visit with a practising midwife was video-recorded to extrapolate the time taken to ask about and offer assistance to manage clinical, screening and lifestyle risk factors.

Most women (96%) perceived they should be asked about each of the risk factors at least once (i.e. at first visit). Total time taken to ask about all risk factors was 52min. More time was spent discussing clinical (11min) than lifestyle factors (4min). Adjusting for the estimated prevalence of each risk factor, the time taken to offer assistance was 8min per woman. Average time required for detecting and offering assistance to manage risk factors is 60min per average risk woman.

Women are willing to be asked about risk factors; however this process is time-consuming. Strategies to streamline visits and prioritise recommendations so time-efficient yet comprehensive care can be delivered are needed, particularly when factors require monitoring over time and for those who may be 'at-risk' for multiple factors.