Authors:
Mutch R; Wray J; Bower C
Authors notes:
Journal of population therapeutics and clinical pharmacology. 2012;19(2):e227-33
Keywords:
Drinking behavior, Pregnancy, Alcohol Drinking, Data Collection
Abstract
To assess the effectiveness of alcohol documentation and to measure the knowledge, attitudes and clinical practice of health practitioners in relation to asking about alcohol use in pregnancy.
Review of all written documentation, of both files and paediatric correspondence, found only three letters recording alcohol use in pregnancy; two of the letters recorded the index child displaying stigmata consistent with prenatal alcohol exposure, yet Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) were not considered within the concluding differential diagnoses.
56% of responding CDS staff (73% response) agreed it was important to ask about alcohol use when taking a pregnancy history, 20% indicated they routinely asked about alcohol exposure and 35% of staff said they never asked about alcohol use.
There is a gap in clinical practice within this CDS in asking and/or recording information about alcohol use in pregnancy.
The majority of CDS staff who completed the survey agreed that asking about alcohol use in pregnancy was important and welcomed a proven technique to do so.