Preferences of Australian healthcare providers regarding education on long-term health after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a qualitative study

Heike Roth; Veronica Morcos; Lynne M Roberts; Lisa Hanley; Caroline S E Homer; Amanda Henry

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055674

Preferences of Australian healthcare providers regarding education on long-term health after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a qualitative study

BMJ Open. 2022 May 26;12(5):e055674. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055674.

Authors

Heike Roth^{1

2

3}, Veronica Morcos², Lynne M Roberts^{2

4}, Lisa Hanley⁵, Caroline S E Homer^{6

3

7}, Amanda Henry^{2

8}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia heike.roth@uts.edu.au.
² Discipline of Women's Health, University of New South Wales Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁴ Women's and Children's Health, Saint George Hospital, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia.
⁵ Maternity Consumer, Saint George Hospital, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁷ Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ Women's Health, The George Institute for Global Health, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia.

Abstract

Objectives: To explore Australian healthcare providers' (HCPs') preferred content, format and access to education regarding long-term health after hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP), in order to guide the development of education programmes.

Design and setting: A qualitative study using a framework analysis was undertaken. Registered HCP who were practising in Australia and previously completed a survey about long-term health after HDP were invited to participate.

Participants: Twenty HCP were interviewed, including midwives, specialist obstetrician/gynaecologists, general practitioners with a diploma in obstetrics and gynaecology, and cardiologists.

Primary and secondary outcome measures: Exploration of preferred content, format and distribution of educational material post-HDP.

Results: Twenty HCP were interviewed in April to May 2020. Four main categories were identified. 'Obtaining evidence-based information for own learning' addressing own learning with preference for multi-disciplinary education, preferably endorsed or facilitated by professional organisations. 'Optimising the referral process from hospital to community health services' was about the need for structured long-term follow-up to transition from hospital to community health and align with HDP guidelines. 'Facilitating women's health literacy' addressed the need for evidence-based, print or web-based material to assist risk discussions with women. 'Seizing educational opportunities' addressed the responsibility of all HCP to identify education opportunities to initiate key health discussions with women.

Conclusions: HCP provided ideas on content, format and access of education regarding long-term health post-HDP within the parameters of the Australian healthcare context. This evidence will guide educational developments for HCP on post-HDP health to ensure they can better care for women and families.

Keywords: Hypertension; MEDICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING; OBSTETRICS; PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; PRIMARY CARE.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
Female
General Practitioners*
Humans
Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* / therapy
Obstetrics*
Pre-Eclampsia*
Pregnancy
Qualitative Research