Acceptability of virtual prenatal care: thinking beyond the pandemic

Abstract

Objective

Obstetrical providers have had to rapidly rethink how to provide comprehensive prenatal care during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. At our institution, we implemented a risk-stratified approach to incorporating telemedicine into our prenatal care. The objective of this study was to determine acceptability of virtual prenatal care and preferences for future pregnancies among our patient population.

Study design

We sought feedback from a convenience sample of patients regarding the acceptability of virtual prenatal care and desires for future pregnancies.

Results

We found that virtual prenatal care is acceptable to patients, and the majority would like to incorporate it into future post-pandemic pregnancy care, although preferences differ by race.

Conclusion

Virtual prenatal care should continue to be employed in post-pandemic obstetric practice. Obstetrical providers must determine how to incorporate this practice in a risk-stratified and equitable fashion.

Keywords:

• Pandemic
• prenatal care
• telemedicine
• virtual visits
• acceptability
• patient preferences

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no relevant conflicts of interest. No part of this study was funded by any group, internal or external to our institution.

Authors’ contribution

Mackenzie W. Sullivan was the primary author of this work and was responsible for study conceptualization/design, patient recruitment, data collection, statistical analysis, and manuscript authorship/revision. Alexa N. Kanbergs, Emily R. Burdette, Jason Silberman, Sarah Dolisca, and Jill Scarry were responsible for patient recruitment and reviewing the final manuscript. Marti Soffer was responsible for reviewing the final manuscript. Anjali Kaimal and Allison Bryant Mantha were responsible for study design and reviewing the final manuscript. Sarah Bernstein was the primary investigator of this work and was responsible for study design, patient recruitment and reviewing the final manuscript.