Health Professionals are the Preferred Source of Information on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy for Australian Women: A National Survey
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background and Objective
Prenatal alcohol exposure is a common preventable cause of intellectual disability, but alcohol use
remains high during pregnancy. We identified where Australian women obtained information about alcohol during pregnancy, their preferred sources of information, and their perceptions of the role of health professionals in providing information.
Materials and Methods
In 2006, 1103 nonpregnant Australian women of childbearing age (18–45 years) were interviewed using computer-assisted telephone interview. Information about their actual and preferred sources of information about consuming alcohol during pregnancy and the perceived role of health professionals in pregnancy education were obtained.
Results
Most (99%) of the Australian women interviewed said information about the effects of consuming alcohol during pregnancy should be readily available, but only half had sighted any such information. Brochures were the most-sighted source (16%), followed by media programs/articles (13%). Women preferred health professionals (52%) as the best source of information, followed by television advertisements (12%). Health professional platforms (e.g., antenatal classes) were preferred by women who had previously given birth, while the Internet was preferred by nulliparous and Australian-born women. Message recall was associated with knowledge that alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, growth problems, and lifelong disabilities in a child (P < 0.05). Women agreed that health professionals should ask pregnant women about alcohol, advise how much alcohol consumption is safe during pregnancy, and advise pregnant women or those planning pregnancy to give up alcohol consumption.
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How to Cite
Tsang, T., Peadon, E., Bower, C., D’Antoine, H., Payne, J., & Elliott, E. (2020). Health Professionals are the Preferred Source of Information on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy for Australian Women: A National Survey. Journal of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, 3(1), e1-e11. https://doi.org/10.22374/jfasrp.v3i1.8
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References
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16. Balachova T, Bonner B, Bard D, Chaffin M, Isurina G, Owora A, et al. Women’s receptivity to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders prevention approaches: A case study of two regions in Russia. Int J Alcohol Drug Res. 2014;3(1):5–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v3i1.158
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19. Crawford-Williams F, Steen M, Esterman A, Fielder A, Mikocka-Walus A. “If you can have one glass of wine now and then, why are you denying that to a woman with no evidence”: Knowledge and practices of health professionals concerning alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Women Birth. 2015;28(4):329–35. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2015.04.003
20. Payne JM, Watkins RE, Jones HM, Reibel T, Mutch R, Wilkins A, et al. Midwives’ knowledge, attitudes and practice about alcohol exposure and the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014;14:377. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/ s12884-014-0377-z
21. Payne J, France K, Henley N, D’Antoine H, Bartu A, O’Leary C, et al. Changes in health professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and practice following provision of educational resources about prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2011;25(4):316–27. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3016.2011.01197.x
22. Elliott EJ, Payne J, Haan E, Bower C. Diagnosis of foetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol use in pregnancy: A survey of paediatricians’ knowledge, attitudes and practice. J Paediatr Child Health. 2006;42(11):698–703. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00954.x
23. Payne J, Elliott E, D’Antoine H, O’Leary C, Mahony A, Haan E, et al. Health professionals’ knowledge, practice and opinions about fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Aust NZ J Public Health. 2005;29(6):558–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2005.tb00251.x
24. Doherty E, Kingsland M, Wiggers J, Anderson AE, Elliott EJ, Symonds I, et al. Barriers to the implementation of clinical guidelines for maternal alcohol consumption in antenatal services: A survey using the theoretical domains framework. Health Promot J Aust.2019; 31(1):133–139. .http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hpja.258
25. Hall & Partners Open Mind. Women want to know project evaluation. Canberra, Australia: Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE); 2016.
26. Kingsland M, Doherty E, Anderson AE, Crooks K, Tully B, Tremain D, et al. A practice change intervention to improve antenatal care addressing alcohol consumption by women during pregnancy: Research protocol for a randomised stepped-wedge cluster trial. Implement Sci. 2018;13(1):112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/ s13012-018-0806-x
27. Bower C, Elliott EJ, on behalf of the Steering Group. Report to the Australian Government Department of Health: “Australian guide to the diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)”. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of Health; 2016.
28. Young B, Lewis S, Katikireddi SV, Bauld L, Stead M, Angus K, et al. Effectiveness of mass media campaigns to reduce alcohol consumption and harm: A systematic review. Alcohol Alcohol. 2018;53(3):302–16. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agx094
29. Crawford-Williams F, Fielder A, Mikocka-Walus A, Esterman A. A critical review of public health interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption and/ or increasing knowledge among pregnant women. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2015;34(2):154–61. http://dx.doi. org/10.1111/dar.12152
30. Ingersoll K, Frederick C, MacDonnell K, Ritterband L, Lord H, Jones B, et al. A pilot RCT of an internet intervention to reduce the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancy. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2018;42(6):1132–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acer.13635
31. O’Connor EA, Perdue LA, Senger CA, Rushkin M, Patnode CD, Bean SI, et al. Screening and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in adolescents and adults: Updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 2018;320(18):1910–28. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.12086
32. Rutman D, Hubberstey C. National evaluation of Canadian multi-service FASD prevention programs: Interim findings from the co-creating evidence study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(10):18. http:// dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101767
33. O’Toole J, Sinclair M, Leder K. Maximising response rates in household telephone surveys. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2008;8(1):71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-8-71
34. Floyd RL, Weber MK, Denny C, O’Connor MJ. Preven-tion of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2009;15(3):193–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ddrr.75
2. Muggli E, O’Leary C, Donath S, Orsini F, Forster D, Anderson PJ, et al. “Did you ever drink more?” A detailed description of pregnant women’s drinking pat-terns. BMC Public Health. 2016;16:683. http://dx.doi. org/10.1186/s12889-016-3354-9
3. McCormack C, Hutchinson D, Burns L, Wilson J, El-liott E, Allsop S, et al. Prenatal alcohol consumption between conception and recognition of pregnancy. Al-cohol Clin Exp Res. 2017;41(2):369–78. http://dx.doi. org/10.1111/acer.13305
4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National drug strategy household survey 2016: Detailed findings. Canberra, Australia: AIHW; 2017.
5. National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol. Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia; 2009.
6. Anderson AE, Hure AJ, Powers JR, Kay-Lambkin FJ, Loxton DJ. Determinants of pregnant women’s compliance with alcohol guidelines: A prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health. 2012;12(1):777. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-777
7. Skagerström J, Chang G, Nilsen P. Predictors of drinking during pregnancy: A systematic review. J Womens Health. 2011;20(6):901–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ jwh.2010.2216
8. Peadon E, Payne J, Henley N, D’Antoine H, Bartu A, O’Leary C, et al. Attitudes and behaviour predict women’s intention to drink alcohol during pregnancy: The challenge for health professionals. BMC Public Health. 2011;11(1):584. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-584
9. Elek E, Harris SL, Squire CM, Margolis M, Weber MK, Dang EP, et al. Women’s knowledge, views, and experiences regarding alcohol use and pregnancy: Opportunities to improve health messages. Am J Health Educ. 2013;44(4):177–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1 9325037.2013.768906
10. Environics Research Group Limited. Awareness of the effects of alcohol use during pregnancy and fetal alcohol syndrome: Results of a national survey—Final report. Ontario, Canada: Public Health Agency of Canada for Health Canada; 2000.
11. Peadon E, Payne J, Henley N, D’Antoine H, Bartu A, O’Leary C, et al. Women’s knowledge and attitudes regarding alcohol consumption in pregnancy: A national survey. BMC Public Health. 2010;10:510. http://dx.doi. org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-510
12. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian historical population statistics (Cat. No. 3105.0.65.001) [Internet]. 2004. Available from: http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/CA2568A90021A807CA256 DB000025315/$File/3105065001_table19.xls [Access date: 30 Oct 2019]
13. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Census of population and housing Australia 2007 (Cat. No. 2068.0—2006) [Internet]. Available from: http://www.censusdata.abs. gov.au [Access date: 2 Feb 2014]
14. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Summary of results, education and training experience, Australia, 2005, state tables (Cat. No. 6278.0) [Internet]. 2006. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ DetailsPage/6278.020052014 [Access date: 10 Mar 2014]
15. Anderson AE, Hure AJ, Kay-Lambkin FJ, Loxton DJ. Women’s perceptions of information about alcohol use during pregnancy: A qualitative study. BMC Public Health. 2014;14(1):1048. http://dx.doi. org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-1048
16. Balachova T, Bonner B, Bard D, Chaffin M, Isurina G, Owora A, et al. Women’s receptivity to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders prevention approaches: A case study of two regions in Russia. Int J Alcohol Drug Res. 2014;3(1):5–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v3i1.158
17. Baron R, Heesterbeek Q, Mannien J, Hutton EK, Brug J, Westerman MJ. Exploring health education with midwives, as perceived by pregnant women in primary care: A qualitative study in the Netherlands. Midwifery. 2017;46:37–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. midw.2017.01.012
18. Jones SC, Telenta J, Shorten A, Johnson K. Midwives and pregnant women talk about alcohol: What advice do we give and what do they receive? Midwifery. 2011;27(4):489–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. midw.2010.03.009
19. Crawford-Williams F, Steen M, Esterman A, Fielder A, Mikocka-Walus A. “If you can have one glass of wine now and then, why are you denying that to a woman with no evidence”: Knowledge and practices of health professionals concerning alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Women Birth. 2015;28(4):329–35. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2015.04.003
20. Payne JM, Watkins RE, Jones HM, Reibel T, Mutch R, Wilkins A, et al. Midwives’ knowledge, attitudes and practice about alcohol exposure and the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014;14:377. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/ s12884-014-0377-z
21. Payne J, France K, Henley N, D’Antoine H, Bartu A, O’Leary C, et al. Changes in health professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and practice following provision of educational resources about prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2011;25(4):316–27. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3016.2011.01197.x
22. Elliott EJ, Payne J, Haan E, Bower C. Diagnosis of foetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol use in pregnancy: A survey of paediatricians’ knowledge, attitudes and practice. J Paediatr Child Health. 2006;42(11):698–703. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00954.x
23. Payne J, Elliott E, D’Antoine H, O’Leary C, Mahony A, Haan E, et al. Health professionals’ knowledge, practice and opinions about fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Aust NZ J Public Health. 2005;29(6):558–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2005.tb00251.x
24. Doherty E, Kingsland M, Wiggers J, Anderson AE, Elliott EJ, Symonds I, et al. Barriers to the implementation of clinical guidelines for maternal alcohol consumption in antenatal services: A survey using the theoretical domains framework. Health Promot J Aust.2019; 31(1):133–139. .http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hpja.258
25. Hall & Partners Open Mind. Women want to know project evaluation. Canberra, Australia: Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE); 2016.
26. Kingsland M, Doherty E, Anderson AE, Crooks K, Tully B, Tremain D, et al. A practice change intervention to improve antenatal care addressing alcohol consumption by women during pregnancy: Research protocol for a randomised stepped-wedge cluster trial. Implement Sci. 2018;13(1):112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/ s13012-018-0806-x
27. Bower C, Elliott EJ, on behalf of the Steering Group. Report to the Australian Government Department of Health: “Australian guide to the diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)”. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of Health; 2016.
28. Young B, Lewis S, Katikireddi SV, Bauld L, Stead M, Angus K, et al. Effectiveness of mass media campaigns to reduce alcohol consumption and harm: A systematic review. Alcohol Alcohol. 2018;53(3):302–16. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agx094
29. Crawford-Williams F, Fielder A, Mikocka-Walus A, Esterman A. A critical review of public health interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption and/ or increasing knowledge among pregnant women. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2015;34(2):154–61. http://dx.doi. org/10.1111/dar.12152
30. Ingersoll K, Frederick C, MacDonnell K, Ritterband L, Lord H, Jones B, et al. A pilot RCT of an internet intervention to reduce the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancy. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2018;42(6):1132–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acer.13635
31. O’Connor EA, Perdue LA, Senger CA, Rushkin M, Patnode CD, Bean SI, et al. Screening and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in adolescents and adults: Updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 2018;320(18):1910–28. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.12086
32. Rutman D, Hubberstey C. National evaluation of Canadian multi-service FASD prevention programs: Interim findings from the co-creating evidence study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(10):18. http:// dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101767
33. O’Toole J, Sinclair M, Leder K. Maximising response rates in household telephone surveys. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2008;8(1):71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-8-71
34. Floyd RL, Weber MK, Denny C, O’Connor MJ. Preven-tion of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2009;15(3):193–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ddrr.75