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Priority topics for preconception care in general practice: a consensus study
Danielle Schoenaker1,2,3, Elizabeth Lovegrove4, Miriam Santer5
1School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK D.Schoenaker@soton.ac.uk.
BJGP Open
|July 31, 2026
Summary
Primary care practitioners can now focus on 16 key topics for opportunistic preconception care. This structured approach supports better pregnancy preparedness for individuals of reproductive age.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Public Health
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- Primary care practitioners are vital for supporting individuals of reproductive age in pregnancy preparation.
- Opportunistic preconception care during routine visits is ideal but faces time constraints.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish consensus on priority topics for opportunistic preconception care within general practice.
Main Methods:
- A three-step consensus study involving UK primary care practitioners and individuals of reproductive age.
- Topic identification via literature reviews, workshops, and interviews, followed by Delphi surveys and a consensus workshop.
Main Results:
- 37 potential topics were initially identified.
- A consensus process identified 16 priority topics, grouped into four areas: patient knowledge, ideas/concerns/expectations, health conditions, and health behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Agreed priority topics provide a framework for patient-centered, opportunistic preconception care in primary care.
- Findings support developing tools for routine implementation of preconception care.
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