title: Gender differences in provider's use of a standardized screening tool for prenatal substance use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prenatal substance use contributes birth defects, prematurity, and infant mortality in the U.S. As such, it is critical that medical professionals receive appropriate education and actively engage in screening patients; however, a physician's gender may influence differences in screening practices. The purpose of this study is to examine male and female Ob/Gyn physician's beliefs and practices related to perinatal substance use screening and to identify the significant correlates of using a standardized screening tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from 131 Ob/Gyn physician's in Kentucky using a web-based survey. Chi-square and t-tests were used to distinguish differences between male (n=84) and female (n=47) providers. Binary logistic regression was also used to assess the independent correlates of the use of a standardized screening tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female Ob/Gyn physician's were more likely to "believe in" the effectiveness of screening, to discuss sensitive topics with patients, and were motivated to screen as a part of comprehensive care or because screening could produce a behavioral change. Female providers were also more likely to use a screening tool in a multivariate model; however, being female was no longer significant after additional variables were included in the model. Specifically, younger Ob/Gyn physicians who frequently discussed mental health issues with female patients of childbearing age, and were motivated to screen because it is part of comprehensive care were significantly more likely to use a standardized substance use screening tool.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, less than half of Ob/Gyn physicians were using a standardized screening tool and the majority of physicians were using the CAGE. This suggests additional training is needed to increase their use of substance use screening tools, especially those geared towards pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA. cboser0@uky.edu
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oser
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biebel
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leukefeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards; D006176:Gynecology; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*