Open AccessHealth professionals' knowledge, practice and opinions about fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol consumption in pregnancy
Author(s) -
Payne Jan,
Elliott Elizabeth,
D'Antoine Heather,
O'Leary Colleen,
Mahony Anne,
Haan Eric,
Bower Carolyn
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-842x.2005.tb00251.x
Subject(s) - medicine , health professionals , pregnancy , fetal alcohol syndrome , alcohol consumption , family medicine , nursing , environmental health , health care , alcohol , biochemistry , chemistry , genetics , economics , biology , economic growth
Objective: To measure the knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals regarding fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and alcohol use during pregnancy. Method: A postal survey of a representative random sample of health professionals was conducted in Western Australia (WA) in 2002/03. 1,143 (79%) of 1,443 eligible health professionals completed the survey (87 Aboriginal Health Workers, 286 allied health professionals, 537 community nurses, 170 general practitioners and 63 obstetricians). Results: Of 1,143 health professionals, 12% identified all four essential diagnostic features of FAS. Most (95%) had never diagnosed FAS. Although 82% believed that making a diagnosis of FAS might improve treatment plans and 85% agreed FAS was preventable, 53% said the diagnosis might be stigmatising. Only 2% felt very prepared to deal with FAS and most wanted information for themselves and their clients. Of the 659 health professionals caring for pregnant women, only 45% routinely ask about alcohol use in pregnancy, only 25% routinely provide information on the consequences of alcohol use in pregnancy and only 13% provide advice consistent with NHMRC guidelines on alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Conclusion: Health professionals have identified the need for educational materials for themselves and their clients. Implications: FAS is likely to be under‐ascertained in Australia due to a lack of knowledge of FAS by health professionals. Until this lack of knowledge is addressed, opportunities for diagnosis and prevention of FAS will be limited.