title: Nutrition and physical activity guidance for women in the pre- and post-natal period: a continuing education needs assessment in primary health care.
abstract: The study objective was to assess primary health care (PHC) providers' exposure to women in the pre- and post-natal period, current nutrition and physical activity guidance practices, confidence and perceived needs for continuing education relevant to nutrition and physical activity guidance in the peri-natal period. A self-administered cross-sectional questionnaire survey amongst a purposively recruited sample of 226 local primary health care providers evenly distributed across general practice, community nursing, pharmacist and pharmacy assistant worker groups. The questionnaire contained 106 items about primary health care providers' exposure to women in the pre- and post-natal life-stage, their current nutrition and physical activity guidance practices, confidence and perceived needs for continuing education relevant to nutrition and physical activity guidance in the peri-natal period. Results indicate that PHC providers across general practice, community nursing and pharmacy service settings are frequently accessed by women during this life-stage, and regularly and variably provide guidance on nutrition and physical activity, and report different continuing education needs. Continuing education interventions need to be tailored to match the needs of each PHC group. Pharmacy-based staff are a priority for PHC continuing education about nutrition and physical activity if the potential of the community-based pharmacy as a primary health setting is to be realised.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4217, Australia. r.hughes@griffith.edu.au
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baillie
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shelton
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009043:Motor Activity; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires