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Clinician continuity during pregnancy care: A mixed methods study
Daniela Reyes1, Sara E Booth2, Ryan Gould2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston Massachusetts USA.
Pregnancy (Hoboken, N.J.)
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Patient experiences highlight that clinician continuity in pregnancy care is vital for building trust. Improving continuity can enhance patient satisfaction and overall care quality.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Health Services Research
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Clinician continuity is a key aspect of quality healthcare, particularly in pregnancy care.
- Understanding patient perceptions of continuity and its impact on trust is crucial for improving care delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify clinician continuity during outpatient pregnancy care.
- To explore patient experiences with clinician continuity and its effect on trust-building.
Main Methods:
- A convergent mixed methods study combining retrospective cohort data (n=2395) and semi-structured interviews (n=14).
- Quantitative analysis of the number of clinicians seen and proportion of visits with the most frequent clinician.
- Qualitative content analysis of patient interviews on continuity, trust, and care recommendations.
Main Results:
- A median of 4 clinicians were seen during pregnancy care, with variations across practice types.
- Discontinuity of care was identified as a significant factor eroding patient-clinician trust.
- 21.0% of patients saw the obstetrician present at delivery.
Conclusions:
- Clinician continuity in pregnancy care is variable and influenced by practice setting and patient characteristics.
- Patients highly value continuity, associating it with increased trust and better care experiences.
- Enhancing clinical continuity is recommended to improve pregnancy care outcomes and patient satisfaction.
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