title: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: knowledge and screening practices of university hospital medical students and residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the leading cause of preventable intellectual disabilities in the United States and a significant public health issue.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and screening practices of pre-clinical medical students and clinical providers on FAS, FASD, and alcohol consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  A short survey sent to medical students and residents on the campus of a large medical school and university hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the survey of clinical providers, 38% of respondents stated they always survey pregnant women about their alcohol consumption, 34% stated they always screen patients planning to get pregnant, and 9% screen women of childbearing age. There were a significant percentage of providers who never screen women. When questioned regarding safe amounts of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, 69% of pre-clinical medical students and 67% of clinical providers stated there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption. Clinical providers were much more likely to correctly select the facial features necessary for the diagnosis (p-value < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant differences exist in the knowledge and screening practices of these different healthcare providers and trainees. Future interventions should seek to improve knowledge on FAS, FASD, and alcohol consumption, in order for practitioners to be more consistent with national guidelines and the Surgeon General recommendations.
authors: Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Arnold
authors: Megan
authors: M
authors: Burke
authors: Ashley
authors: A
authors: Decker
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Herzberg
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Maher
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Motz
authors: Hari
authors: H
authors: Nandu
authors: Luke
authors: L
authors: O'Donnel
authors: Altaf
authors: A
authors: Pirmohamed
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Ybarra
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States