Community education on preterm birth. Does it change practice?

OBJECTIVE To evaluate how well physicians and other prenatal care providers educate women about early recognition of and appropriate response to the signs and symptoms of preterm labour (PTL). To assess use of antenatal steroids for babies born at less than 34 weeks' gestation.

DESIGN Before-after study using a population-based approach.

SETTING Health care providers' offices, hospitals, and prenatal classes in Ottawa, Ont.

PARTICIPANTS Prenatal care providers, women in hospital after giving birth, prenatal class participants.

INTERVENTIONS Prenatal care providers received information and educational materials on PTL and preterm birth (PTB). They passed this information on to pregnant women at their 18- to 20-week prenatal visits. Teachers of prenatal classes gave the same information in early-series classes. Clinical practice guidelines were developed, and hospital staff received education on appropriate response to PTL.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Use of educational materials and steroid treatment.

RESULTS Statistically significant increases were seen in the numbers of care providers who had educational material about PTL and PTB, who reported giving the educational material to all women, and who reported discussing signs and symptoms of PTL and PTB with all women; women who reported that their care providers talked with them about PTL and PTB, and women delivering preterm (< 34 weeks) babies who received steroids.

CONCLUSION Providing knowledge and standardized educational materials to health care providers can help improve preventive practice for PTL and educate women about PTL.