title: Management of cannabis use during pregnancy: an assessment of healthcare professionals' practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because of the increase of cannabis use, healthcare professionals are more and more confronted with pregnancies which have been exposed to this drug. There may be health consequences during the course of pregnancy and also for the babies throughout their development. We have made a study in order to evaluate practices of detection and care for pregnant women who use cannabis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was sent to all gynaecologists (GYNs), obstetricians (OBs) and midwives (MWs) in the district of Loire-Atlantique and to a 20% randomized sample of general practitioners (GPs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participation rate was 60.1%. Only 51.4% of healthcare professionals asked their patients about drugs use and 68.1% didn't feel informed enough about the risks of cannabis use during pregnancy. There was a significant difference between the healthcare professionals who deliver babies (OBs and MWs) and those who only do prenatal consultations (GYNs and GPs). The first group question their patients about the use of cannabis more often (69.1% versus 39.8%; p = 0.01), and also feel more informed about the risks of cannabis use during pregnancy (42.0% versus 24.4%; p = 0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare professionals who supervise childbirth have a more accurate perception of the risk related to the consumption of cannabis during pregnancy. But preventive action must be taken early on because the lack of early identification at the beginning of pregnancy represents a public health problem. After observing the results we feel there is a strong need for training for all practitioners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Nantes University Hospital, France. marie.gerardin@chu-nantes.fr
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gérardin
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Victorri-Vigneau
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Louvigné
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivoal
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jolliet
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006176:Gynecology / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008880:Midwifery / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors