title: Exploring knowledge of pre-eclampsia and views on a potential screening test in women with type 1 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to explore knowledge of pre-eclampsia and opinions on potential screening tests for pre-eclampsia in women with type 1 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews of women planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant or post-partum with experience of pre-eclampsia. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: eleven women with type 1 diabetes were recruited from a pre-pregnancy planning clinic or antenatal clinic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the women, asking a series of open-ended questions about their current knowledge of pre-eclampsia and their views on screening for pre-eclampsia. Data analysis was conducted using inductive thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  four main themes were identified: Information, sources of stress, awareness and acceptability of screening. Generally, women's knowledge of pre-eclampsia was limited. Most did not appear to be aware of their increased risk of developing the disease. Similarly, the majority of women were unaware as to why their blood pressure and urine were checked regularly. The introduction of a screening test for pre-eclampsia was favoured, with only a small number of women raising concerns related to the screening tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  health care professionals need to raise awareness of pre-eclampsia in this high risk group. The introduction of a screening test for pre-eclampsia appears to be acceptable in this population, however, further research is required to validate these findings and also to explore the views of women in other high risk groups.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Amy C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wotherspoon
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Ian S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: McCance
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK. Electronic address: v.holmes@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Diabetes; Information; Pre-eclampsia; Pre-gestational; Pregnancy; Screening