A component of quality prenatal care is patient education. The extent to which pregnant women avail themselves of prenatal care and its educational component is influenced by many factors. One such factor is believed to be satisfaction with their prenatal care provider. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between a woman's satisfaction with her prenatal care provider and the prenatal educational content delivered by that provider, as well as the relationship between satisfaction with her prenatal care provider and a patient's level of knowledge. Face-to-face, close-end interviews were conducted with 154 pregnant women. Respondents were predominantly African-American, with an average age of 23 and a high school education or less. The average provider satisfaction score was 80 (out of 100), and 70% would recommend their provider. The average knowledge score was 56 out of 26 possible. The highest proportion of respondents received high knowledge scores on matched provider content-knowledge questions: importance of taking prenatal vitamins (98%), the negative effects of cigarettes (94%), alcohol (94%) and street drugs on the developing fetus (95%), and nutrition (88%). Respondents seem to have the most knowledge on topics discussed by their provider. A significant positive correlation (p>. 01; 2-tailed) exists between the provider satisfaction score and having received more health information from the provider. Unexpectedly, no correlation exists between having received more information from the provider and having a higher level of health knowledge. Providers are one source of information, and need to determine whether or not learning has occurred.
Learning Objectives: 1. Be able to identify topics related to health behaviors of pregnant women that are addressed by providers 2. Be able to list health behavior knowledge gaps in high risk pregnant women. 3. Critique the relationship between knowledge, education provided, and satisfaction with prenatal care provider.
Keywords: Prenatal Care, Health Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.