title: A survey of pregnant women on the use of graduated elastic compression stockings on the antenatal ward.
abstract: Pulmonary thromboembolism is the leading direct cause of maternal death in the UK. This direct approach structured questionnaire survey was carried out on 100 randomly chosen pregnant in-patients in a London teaching hospital: (a) to assess the quality and frequency of advice given to them by the healthcare professionals on the use of graduated elastic compression stockings (GECS) as a primary physical prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism (VTE) and (b) to find out the rate of compliance and the possible reasons for non-compliance of their use. The information and advice given to pregnant patients by healthcare professionals are generally of good-to-excellent quality, but not universally offered. A total of 40% of mothers wore the GECS all the time, while 38% did not wear them at all. Among the non-wearers, the two major groups were those who did not receive any advice (28%) and those who found them uncomfortable (18%). All healthcare professionals should be aware of the potential risks of VTE, and routinely educate and advise the pregnant women-at-risk on the use of GECS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ash
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*