Obstetrician–gynaecologist knowledge of and access to information about the risks of medication use during pregnancy

Abstract

Objective. To assess opinions, knowledge, and informational resources of obstetrician–gynaecologists regarding the safety of medication use during pregnancy.

Methods. A questionnaire was mailed to 770 members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists who participate in the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network.

Results. The response rate was 58%. Of these, 305 respondents provide both routine gynecologic and obstetric care and are the focus of the study. There was wide variation in obstetrician–gynaecologists' assessments of the safety for the foetus of medications ranging from aspirin to valproic acid. The Physicians' Desk Reference was most frequently (75%) cited as a source of information about medication safety. Forty-two percent of obstetrician–gynaecologists selected lack of sufficient information on medications as the greatest barrier to counselling pregnant women about their use, while only 4% selected lack of access to information as the greatest barrier. Most (79%) obstetrician–gynaecologists indicated they would be willing to participate in pregnancy exposure registries, but far fewer (24%) reported having done so.

Conclusion. These results emphasise the need for safety information about the effects of medication use during pregnancy and suggest that pregnancy exposure registries are underutilised.

Keywords:

• Medication
• pregnancy
• prescription
• over-the-counter
• teratogenic
• safety
• questionnaire
• pregnancy exposure registry

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Grant #R60 MC 05674 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act), Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services and by Grant #65/CCU323377-03/04 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).