title: Strategies associated with higher postpartum glucose tolerance screening rates for gestational diabetes mellitus patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most women with histories of gestational diabetes mellitus do not receive a postpartum screening test for type 2 diabetes, even though they are at increased risk. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with high rates of postpartum glucose screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional analysis assessed characteristics associated with postpartum diabetes screening for patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)-affected pregnancies self-reported by randomly sampled licensed obstetricians/gynecologists (OBs/GYNs) in Ohio in 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses were received from 306 OBs/GYNs (56.5% response rate), among whom 69.9% reported frequently (always/most of the time) screening women with GDM-affected pregnancies for abnormal glucose tolerance at the postpartum visit. Compared to infrequent screeners, OBs/GYNs who frequently screen for postpartum glucose tolerance were statistically (p<0.05) more likely to have a clinical protocol addressing postpartum testing (67.2% vs. 26.7%), an electronic reminder system for providers (10.8% vs. 2.2%) and provide reminders to patients (16.4% vs. 4.4%). Frequent screeners were more likely to use recommended fasting blood glucose or 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (61.8% vs. 34.6%, p<0.001) than infrequent screeners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies associated with higher postpartum glucose screening for GDM patients included clinical protocols for postpartum testing, electronic medical records to alert providers of the need for testing, and reminders to patients.
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Scientific Education, and Professional Development Program Office, Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. JeanKo@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Jean Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Conrey
authors.forename: Loren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shellhaas
authors.forename: Sherry L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Farr
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Robbins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires