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

Abstract #108982

Linda M. Morgan, RPh, MBA, Fullerton Genetics Center, Mission Hospitals, 14 Victoria Road, Asheville, NC 28801, 828-213-0031, linda.morgan@msj.org

Objective: To increase the frequency of folic acid recommendations made to females of childbearing age by health care providers. Background: The US Public Health Service and Institute of Medicine recommend that all women of childbearing age consume 400mcg of folic acid daily in order to reduce their risk of having a pregnancy affected by spina bifida or other neural tube defects. A current national survey shows that only 40% of women take supplements containing folic acid. 89% of women who did not currently take a folic acid containing multivitamin or supplement stated that they would be likely to take one if advised by their health care provider (HCP.) Yet, of the women who knew about folic acid only 29% reported their health care provider as a source of that information. (March of Dimes Gallup Survey 2004) Project: As a part of a regional folic acid education campaign over 145 inservices have been given to private medical practices in a 24 county region of western North Carolina since 2001. To evaluate the impact of the HCP education program, a written survey was mailed to 406 HCP's in 93 OB/GYN, Family Practice and Pediatric practices who had received an inservice. Results: This presentation will describe the key components of the health care provider education program. In addition, the results of the survey will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss effective strategies for reaching health care providers with a public health message.
• Analyze the impact of a health education intervention on health care providers' awareness and practice habits.

Keywords: Health Education Strategies, Health Care Workers

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.