Current practice and future interest of GPs and prospective parents in pre-conception care in The Netherlands.
BACKGROUND
Evidence for the effectiveness of pre-conception care is growing. GPs are among the possible providers of pre-conception care.


OBJECTIVE
Our first aim was to investigate current pre-conception care activities of GPs and to determine whether prospective parents would visit the GP in the existing health care system. A further aim was to determine the interest of GPs and prospective parents in the introduction of pre-conception care clinics.


METHODS
A survey was conducted among 200 GPs and 303 recently married couples (606 individuals).


RESULTS
Of the eligible GPs, 52% (n = 102) participated, as did 70% (n = 381) of the eligible individuals who are planning a pregnancy. In the current situation, only a few individuals visit their GP pre-conceptionally, and many GPs do not discuss family history or consanguinity with prospective parents. In general, the GPs and prospective parents had a positive attitude towards the introduction of pre-conception care clinics.


CONCLUSIONS
Since most GPs and prospective parents favoured the introduction of pre-conception care, future research should focus on the most appropriate way of implementation.
Poppelaars
Francis A M
FA
Department of Clinical Genetics and Human Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Cornel
Martina C
MC
Ten Kate
Leo P
LP
D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires