Conference Abstract Compendium Examples from the ... - CityMatCH

ACCOMPLISHMENTS/RESULTSMore than 500 practices have been trained by this program since 2003.2009 CityMatCH Urban MCH Leadership ConferenceAn internal evaluation took place in 2007-08 and included key informant interviews and a pre-post designsurvey of private practices. A total of 280 providers (physicians, mid-levels, and nursing staff) completeda pre-intervention survey; 104 providers completed a second survey 3-6 months after the intervention(training).The program was effective in increasing provider knowledge about folic acid and unintended pregnancy.The program also increased the proportion of providers who reported counseling women about folic acidfrom 51% to 67% at annual exams and from 48% to 60% at routine visits. The survey identified the mostcommonly discussed preconception health topics: folic acid, tobacco, alcohol, and nutrition/exercise.BARRIERS• Securing an appointment to provide training for a private practice can be challenging.• The success of the program in a specific practice often relies on the commitment of the OfficeChampion.LESSONS LEARNED• In-office trainings can influence provider knowledge and counseling behaviors.• This program can reach many more women than a traditional public health campaign; each providerwho receives the training has the potential to reach hundreds of women.• Rural practices are more receptive to this type of program than urban practices due to more flexiblescheduling and less attention from pharmaceutical representatives.• Trainings need to be kept short: 15-20 minutes. Many practices expect to receive a snack or lunch.• An important role of health educators is to facilitate dialogue during the training about who isresponsible for providing preconception health education for patients and how that can best beaccomplished.• Multiple visits rather than a single training by a regional coordinator can improve an office’s ability topromote preconception messages such as folic acid appropriately to female patients.INFORMATION FOR REPLICATIONThis program is one component of a comprehensive folic acid campaign in North Carolina. Fundingcomes from a Vitagrant settlement and ongoing state support. Many partners collaborate, including thestate health department (contract administration), a statewide MCH health non-profit (materialsproduction), and March of Dimes (program administration).61