Postpartum consultations in Australian general practice
Wendy E. Brodribb A B , Benjamin L. Mitchell A and Mieke L. Van Driel A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Discipline of General Practice, The University of Queensland, Level 8, Health Sciences Building, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, Qld 4029, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: w.brodribb@uq.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 22(2) 128-132 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY14082
Submitted: 22 May 2014 Accepted: 25 October 2014 Published: 14 January 2015
Abstract
Many GPs undertake postpartum care for women and their infants. GP follow-up enables early identification and management of problems, education and support for parenting, and reconnection with general practice following the birth. However, there is little information about GPs’ understanding of their role in postpartum care and how it is undertaken. This cross-sectional survey of GPs in Southern Queensland, conducted between February and July 2013, describes the involvement of GPs in postpartum care. GPs were posted a 52-item questionnaire adapted from a previous Victorian GP study and were telephoned 2 weeks later. GPs completed the survey on paper or online. The response rate was 17.4% (163 GPs). Approximately 39% were uncertain whether women were happy with the GP-provided postpartum care. GPs’ recommendations for the timing of postpartum reviews were inconsistent within and across birthing sectors and consultations took longer than anticipated. Developing guidelines around the timing and appropriate length of postpartum consultations could assist GPs in providing appropriate care for mothers and infants.
Additional keywords: neonatal care, postnatal care, primary health care, questionnaires.
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