Knowledge and counseling practices of obstetric care providers for women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Japan

Abstract

Aim: Growing evidence exists on the association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and long-term cardiovascular and metabolic disease risks. Here we evaluated obstetric care providers’ knowledge of future HDP-related risks and their engagement in counseling women with HDP in Japan.

Methods: A questionnaire-based survey regarding knowledge of HDP and counseling practices of obstetric care providers in Aichi Prefecture was conducted via a web-based platform from March to June 2024.

Results: A total of 169, 402, and 135 valid responses were obtained from obstetrician-gynecologists, midwives, and nurses, respectively. While more than 80% of the obstetrician-gynecologists were aware of HDP-related risks, only 29.6% regularly provided counseling, while 24.2% rarely or never engaged in such practices. The primary reason for not providing counseling was a lack of knowledge about counseling methods and necessary content, followed by unavailability of appointment slots and time constraints. Among midwives and nurses, approximately 40% rarely or never provided counseling, while many lacked knowledge of the preventive use of low-dose aspirin (67.2%).

Conclusions: This survey demonstrated that, despite a high level of knowledge among healthcare providers, there is a substantial gap between knowledge and the implementation of counseling practices. These findings highlight the need for targeted education and training programs for obstetric care providers.