title: Characteristics of mother-provider interactions surrounding postpartum return to work.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many mothers with infants work full-time, yet little is known about communication between women and health care providers regarding returning to work (RTW).
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey data were obtained from a community-based sample of mothers returning to full-time employment within 4 months postpartum. Bivariate analyses (chi(2) and independent sample t tests) and multivariate logistic regressions were specified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three percent of mothers believed prenatal providers should discuss RTW, yet only 60% had such a discussion; 58% discussed RTW with their infants' provider. Black women (odds ratio, 2.6) and women in poverty (odds ratio, 3.6) more often reported having an RTW discussion with a prenatal provider whereas mothers with college degrees or higher (odds ratio, 2.7) more often had RTW discussions with their infant's provider. RTW discussions occurred < or =3 times and were felt to be only somewhat useful. RTW discussions infrequently centered on maternal health (19.5%) or infant health or development (35.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women want providers to initiate RTW discussions. Providers should be aware that race, poverty status, and level of maternal education impact a mother's odds of having an RTW discussion. Additional research is required to further delineate the content of RTW discussions and to determine the clinical value of RTW discussions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084, USA. crclinch@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: C Randall
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Clinch
authors.forename: Joseph G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Grzywacz
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Jill K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Walls
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D009657:North Carolina; D016017:Odds Ratio; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011203:Poverty; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D018582:Sick Leave