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

Abstract #112151

Heather L. Brumberg, MD, MPH, Nancy Satou, RN, Susan Marchwinski, RNC, MS, and Donna Dozor, RN, MS. Division of Neonatology, Westchester Medical Center, 95 Grasslands Rd., Valhalla, NY 10595, 914-493-8491, heather_brumberg@nymc.edu

Background: NY State mandates that Regional Perinatal Centers partner with community based organizations, county departments of health, insurance companies, and other stakeholders to approach perinatal public health in a multidisciplinary group or Perinatal Forum.

Objective: To determine the impact of a Regional Perinatal Forum Conference (RPFC) on clinical and public health practice and whether this differs by occupation.

Design/methods: A multiple choice survey was distributed to all 90 attendees of the 2004 RPFC at Westchester Medical Center. Email and phone follow up was used to maximize response. Chi square analysis was used for between group analysis.

Results: The overall response rate was 61% (n=55), and by occupation included 22 nurses, 12 physicians, 3 health department officials, 9 members of community based organizations (CBO's), and 11 Others (including lactation consultants, administrators, and social workers). 98% of all responders deem the RPFC a helpful activity. 100% of physicians felt that they learned about regional perinatal public health which was significantly higher than nurses (58%) and CBO's (56%; p<0.05). Two thirds of all responders would change the way they teach their peers/staff after attending the RPFC. Interestingly, of the Others over 60% indicated that they would change their practice as a result of attending the RPFC.

Conclusions: The RPFC can serve as a powerful tool in disseminating public health and clinical practice guidelines to a diverse body of providers. For maximal efficacy in the future, breakout groups by occupation would allow for tailored information dispersal.

Learning Objectives:

• To determine the impact of a Regional Perinatal Forum Conference (RPFC) on clinical and public health practice and whether this differs by occupation.

Keywords: Perinatal Health, Health Education Strategies

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.