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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Lise Goulet, MD PhD¹, Danielle D'Amour, RN PhD², Claude Sicotte, PhD³, Bernard-Simon Leclerc, PhD candidate¹, and Raynald Pineault, MD PhD¹. (1) Department of social and preventive medicine, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada, (514) 343-2442, lise.goulet@umontreal.ca, (2) Faculty of Nursing, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada, (3) Department of Health Administration, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada

Objectives: To assess the degree of implementation and the effects of a woman-centred perinatal information system. The system has four main components: the active participation of the woman; the global nature of the approach; the synergy of the information tools namely a prenatal reference form and a pregnancy booklet, and interprofessional and interorganizational collaboration.

Methods: Semi-directed interviews with professionals and an epidemiological survey were conducted in 2003-2004, in the region where the system has been implemented (14 professionals and 324 women) and in a control region (6 professionals and 327 women).

Results: We found a lack of consensus among professionals concerning the role of the clientele, the prenatal risk factors and the aims of the information tools. Positive effects were observed 1. at the level of the women: a greater satisfaction as for the services received at the physician's office and in the hospital, and a better preparation for the childbirth, and 2. at the level of the professionals: a more global approach among obstetricians who increased prenatal references to the community health centers for psycho-social risks. The pregnancy booklet turned out to be more a self information tool for the woman than an instrument of informational continuity among professionals. The booklet better met the needs of primiparous women and its use was associated with an increased feeling of the women participating in the decisions made by the professionals.

Conclusion: This system has the potential for becoming an effective means to change practices.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, the participant will be able to

• Recognize the importance for the professionals to establish a consensus around the role expected from women in perinatal care;
• Identify the potential effects on women and professionals of a woman-centred information system;
• Recognize that primiparous women may benefit more from a woman-centred information system than multiparous women.

Keywords: Prenatal Care, Information Systems

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered