Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104141

Betsy Sleath, PhD¹, Naveen Thomas, MD², Elizabeth Jackson, PhD³, Sue West, PhD², and Bradley N. Gaynes, MD, MPH². (1) School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Beard Hall CB #7360, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7360, 919-962-0079, betsy_sleath@unc.edu, (2) Cecil Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, CB # 7590, Chapel Hilll, NC 27599, (3) mental health, Cecil Sheps Center for Health Services Research, willowcrest dr, chapel hill, NC 27599

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine: (1) the extent to which obstetricians/gynecologists and family physicians report discussing depression and other psychosocial issues during postpartum visits, and (2) how physician specialty and gender are related to whether physicians report discussing depression and other psychosocial issues with patients during postpartum visits. Methods: The survey was sent to a random sample of 600 obstetricians/gynecologists and 600 family practitioners. Results: The overall response rate was 42 percent. Forty-six percent of the responding physicians reported that they had seen women for postpartum visits during the past three months. Only 43% of physicians were almost certain to ask about the woman feeling down, depressed, or hopeless and just 27% were almost certain to ask about the woman's interest in her usual activities. Twenty percent of physicians were almost certain to ask the woman about her relationship with her partner and 16% of physicians were almost certain to ask the woman about her social support network. Seventy-nine percent of physicians stated that they were unlikely to use a formal screen for depression. Female physicians were significantly more likely to ask about a woman's social support network than male physicians. Family practitioners were significantly more likely to ask about a woman's social support network and the woman's relationship with her partner and they were more likely to use a formal depression screen than obstetricians/gynecologists. Conclusions: Communication about psychosocial issues during postpartum visits could be improved.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand the extent to which obstetricians and family practioners discuss psychosocial issues with women during postpartum visits.
• To describe how physician demographics are related to whether physicians discuss psychosocial issues during postpartum visits.

Keywords: Maternal Well-Being, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.