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Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery: National Survey of Obstetrician's Comfort, Knowledge, and Practice Patterns.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Smid, MC; Dotters-Katz, SK; Mcelwain, C-A; Volckmann, ET; Schulkin, J; Stuebe, AM
Published in: Obes Surg
September 2017

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to survey a nationally representative sample of obstetricians regarding comfort, knowledge, and practice patterns of caring for pregnant women after bariatric surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an online survey of US obstetricians and describe obstetrician's demographics, practice settings, and practice patterns. We assessed respondent's knowledge and recommended practices. We compared provider knowledge by years since completing residency, scope of practice (generalist or specialist), and practice setting (academic setting or other). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 106 completed the survey (response rate of 54%). Respondents had a median age of 47 and median 17 years in practice. Sixty-two percent were generalists. Nearly all of the respondents (94%) had some experience with caring for pregnant women after bariatric surgery and 83% reported feeling "very comfortable" (48%) or "somewhat comfortable" (35%) providing care for this population. Most (74%) were aware of increased risk of small for gestational age after surgery. Only 13% were able to correctly identify all recommended nutritional labs and 20% reported that they "did not know" which labs are recommended. There were no differences in comfort, experience, knowledge, and practice patterns by physician characteristics and practice settings. CONCLUSION: While most obstetricians are aware of perinatal risks after bariatric surgery, a substantial percentage of obstetricians are unaware of recommended practices regarding nutrition and nutritional monitoring. As bariatric surgery becomes increasingly prevalent among reproductive age women, educational interventions to increase obstetricians' knowledge of optimal care of pregnant women after bariatric surgery are urgently needed.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Obes Surg

DOI

EISSN

1708-0428

Publication Date

September 2017

Volume

27

Issue

9

Start / End Page

2354 / 2359

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Surgery
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Physicians
  • Obesity, Morbid
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Smid, M. C., Dotters-Katz, S. K., Mcelwain, C.-A., Volckmann, E. T., Schulkin, J., & Stuebe, A. M. (2017). Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery: National Survey of Obstetrician's Comfort, Knowledge, and Practice Patterns. Obes Surg, 27(9), 2354–2359. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-2661-2
Smid, Marcela C., Sarah K. Dotters-Katz, Cora-Ann Mcelwain, Eric T. Volckmann, Jay Schulkin, and Alison M. Stuebe. “Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery: National Survey of Obstetrician's Comfort, Knowledge, and Practice Patterns.Obes Surg 27, no. 9 (September 2017): 2354–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-2661-2.
Smid MC, Dotters-Katz SK, Mcelwain C-A, Volckmann ET, Schulkin J, Stuebe AM. Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery: National Survey of Obstetrician's Comfort, Knowledge, and Practice Patterns. Obes Surg. 2017 Sep;27(9):2354–9.
Smid, Marcela C., et al. “Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery: National Survey of Obstetrician's Comfort, Knowledge, and Practice Patterns.Obes Surg, vol. 27, no. 9, Sept. 2017, pp. 2354–59. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s11695-017-2661-2.
Smid MC, Dotters-Katz SK, Mcelwain C-A, Volckmann ET, Schulkin J, Stuebe AM. Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery: National Survey of Obstetrician's Comfort, Knowledge, and Practice Patterns. Obes Surg. 2017 Sep;27(9):2354–2359.
Journal cover image

Published In

Obes Surg

DOI

EISSN

1708-0428

Publication Date

September 2017

Volume

27

Issue

9

Start / End Page

2354 / 2359

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Surgery
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Physicians
  • Obesity, Morbid
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans