Does googling for preconception care result in information consistent with international guidelines: a comparison of information found by Italian women of childbearing age and health professionals

Agricola, Eleonora; Gesualdo, Francesco; Pandolfi, Elisabetta; Gonfiantini, Michaela Veronika; Carloni, Emanuela; Mastroiacovo, Pierpaolo; Tozzi, Alberto Eugenio

doi:10.1186/1472-6947-13-14

Cited by 30 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…On the other hand, presence of reliable health-related information on the web has been previously investigated in different areas, such as influenza [31], vaccinations [32], dental care [33], type 2 diabetes [34], ophthalmic conditions [35] and preconception health [36]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Web-Based Surveillance of Public Information Needs for Informing Preconception Interventions

et al. 2015

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BackgroundThe risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes can be minimized through the adoption of healthy lifestyles before pregnancy by women of childbearing age. Initiatives for promotion of preconception health may be difficult to implement. Internet can be used to build tailored health interventions through identification of the public's information needs. To this aim, we developed a semi-automatic web-based system for monitoring Google searches, web pages and activity on social networks, regarding preconception health.MethodsBased on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines and on the actual search behaviors of Italian Internet users, we defined a set of keywords targeting preconception care topics. Using these keywords, we analyzed the usage of Google search engine and identified web pages containing preconception care recommendations. We also monitored how the selected web pages were shared on social networks. We analyzed discrepancies between searched and published information and the sharing pattern of the topics.ResultsWe identified 1,807 Google search queries which generated a total of 1,995,030 searches during the study period. Less than 10% of the reviewed pages contained preconception care information and in 42.8% information was consistent with ACOG guidelines. Facebook was the most used social network for sharing. Nutrition, Chronic Diseases and Infectious Diseases were the most published and searched topics. Regarding Genetic Risk and Folic Acid, a high search volume was not associated to a high web page production, while Medication pages were more frequently published than searched. Vaccinations elicited high sharing although web page production was low; this effect was quite variable in time.ConclusionOur study represent a resource to prioritize communication on specific topics on the web, to address misconceptions, and to tailor interventions to specific populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Web-Based Surveillance of Public Information Needs for Informing Preconception Interventions

et al. 2015

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“…However, healthcare practitioners in maternity services are a group perfectly positioned to discuss preconception nutrition. Though a large proportion of women seek information related to nutrition on the internet, they consider clinicians as reliable sources of information and hence having conversations related to diet and lifestyle in the clinic can help overcome other barriers such as misinformation and poor‐quality nutritional information on the internet 34 …”

Section: Barriers and Opportunities For Engaging With Women In The Prmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevention of noncommunicable diseases by interventions in the preconception period: A FIGO position paper for action by healthcare practitioners

Jacob

Killeen

McAuliffe

et al. 2020

Intl J Gynecology & Obste

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With the increase in obesity prevalence among women of reproductive age globally, the risks of type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, pre‐eclampsia, and other conditions are rising, with detrimental effects on maternal and newborn health. The period before pregnancy is increasingly recognized as crucial for addressing weight management and reducing malnutrition (both under‐ and overnutrition) in both parents to reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the mother as well as the passage of risk to her offspring. Healthcare practitioners, including obstetricians, gynecologists, midwives, and general practitioners, have an important role to play in supporting women in planning a pregnancy and achieving healthy nutrition and weight before pregnancy. In this position paper, the FIGO Pregnancy Obesity and Nutrition Initiative provides an overview of the evidence for preconception clinical guidelines to reduce the risk of NCDs in mothers and their offspring. It encourages healthcare practitioners to initiate a dialogue on women’s health, nutrition, and weight management before conception. While acknowledging the fundamental importance of the wider social and environmental determinants of health, this paper focuses on a simple set of recommendations for clinical practice that can be used even in short consultations. The recommendations can be contextualized based on local cultural and dietary practices as part of a system‐wide public health approach to influence the wider determinants as well as individual factors influencing preconception health.

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“…In a recent survey, we showed that web-engaged women planning a pregnancy search for information on Google using preconception-related and pregnancy-related keywords [12]. This population is probably characterized by a peculiar profile and by specific preconception risk factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women participating in a web-based preconception study have a high prevalence of risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes

Pandolfi

Agricola

Gonfiantini

et al. 2014

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

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BackgroundAdverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) can be increased by preconception risk factors and lifestyles.We measured the prevalence of preconception risk factors for APOs in a population of Italian women of childbearing age enrolled in a web-based study.MethodsParticipants were enrolled through a web platform (http://www.mammainforma.it). After enrollment, participants filled in a questionnaire regarding socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data and preconception risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Through logistic regression, we explored how the prevalence of risk factors was affected by age, education level, employment, parity, physician’s recommendation and knowledge of the specific risk factor.ResultsWe enrolled a total of 728 women. Sixty-two percent had a University degree, 84% were employed and 77% were planning their first pregnancy.Nearly 70% drank alcohol in any quantity; 16% were smokers; 6% was underweight; 21.4% was overweight; 51.6% did not assume folic acid; 22% was susceptible to rubella, 44.5% to hepatitis b and 13.2% to varicella.According to the multivariate analysis, compared to women who already had at least one pregnancy, nulliparous women had a higher BMI [OR 1.60 (CI 1.02;2.48)] and were less likely to be susceptible to rubella [OR 0.33 (CI 0.20;0.58)] and to be consuming alcohol [OR 0.47 (CI 0.31;0.70)] or cigarettes [OR 0.48 (CI 0.26;0.90)].Appropriate knowledge was associated with a correct behavior regarding smoking, drinking alcohol and folic acid supplementation.ConclusionsThis study shows that the prevalence of risk factors for APOs in our population is high.Interventions aimed at reducing risk factors for APOs are needed and, to this purpose, a web intervention may represent a feasible tool to integrate tailored information and to inform preconception counseling targeting a specific group of women planning a pregnancy who are engaged on the web.

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Does googling for preconception care result in information consistent with international guidelines: a comparison of information found by Italian women of childbearing age and health professionals

Cited by 30 publications

References 30 publications

Web-Based Surveillance of Public Information Needs for Informing Preconception Interventions

Web-Based Surveillance of Public Information Needs for Informing Preconception Interventions

Prevention of noncommunicable diseases by interventions in the preconception period: A FIGO position paper for action by healthcare practitioners

Women participating in a web-based preconception study have a high prevalence of risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes

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