Patient and Provider Communication Regarding Exercise during Pregnancy in a Rural Setting

Women in rural settings are at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. One potential way to improve pregnancy outcomes in rural settings is through physical activity promotion. However, given the disparities in prenatal care, women in rural areas may not receive information from their health care provider regarding physical activity during pregnancy. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine patient and provider communication in a rural setting (both patients' and providers' perspectives) regarding physical activity during pregnancy. A mixed methods study was performed among patients and providers in an obstetrical practice in a rural setting. During early pregnancy, patients were asked questions about their current physical activity levels and intentions for physical activity during their pregnancy. During late pregnancy, patients completed a survey regarding communication from their obstetric provider about exercise during pregnancy. Providers responsible for the patients' prenatal care were surveyed regarding communication with patients about physical activity. Seventy-one pregnant women and five providers participated. 58.2% of patients reported their provider did not discuss physical activity during pregnancy with them at all. Meanwhile, all providers (100%) reported discussing physical activity with all of their patients. Similarly, only 21.8% of patients reported their provider discussed the benefits of exercise during pregnancy, while 100% of providers reported telling their patients about the benefits of exercise during pregnancy. Our study suggests ineffective patient-provider communication regarding physical activity during pregnancy in a rural setting. Improved communication strategies could reduce disparities in health outcomes among pregnant women in rural settings.