[Preconception counseling in family practice; a survey of 100 family physicians]

To assess the awareness, opinions on desirability and preconditions such as special knowledge with regard to the concept of preconceptional health counselling among general practitioners.

Descriptive.

General practices in the Groot Gelre district of the Dutch General Practitioners Society.

A representative sample of 100 general practitioners were asked by phone for permission to send a questionnaire; 89 out of the 94 general practitioners who were sent a questionnaire replied (response: 89%).

Almost all general practitioners (88%) knew about the concept of preconceptional health counselling and most of them already gave some kind of preconceptional advice. 93% considered preconceptional health counselling part of their job responsibility and 91% were prepared to give more preconceptional health care in the future. 53% of all general practitioners, however, indicated that they lacked sufficient knowledge to give adequate advice. The advantages of preconceptional health care were considered to outweigh possible disadvantages such as medicalization of pregnancy.

The general practitioners knew about preconceptional health care and considered it part of their job. Many already provided preconceptional health care, although not in a structured way. General practitioners appeared to lack time and appropriate knowledge, which indicates a need for postgraduate training.