Preconception and Pregnancy Nutrition Support for Women with a History of Bariatric Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the UK
Preconception bariatric surgery improves obesity-related maternal pregnancy complications but may reduce the absorption of nutrients required for healthy fetal growth and development. Women who receive preconception nutritional support after bariatric surgery are less likely to have adverse pregnanc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/20/4415 |
| _version_ | 1797572689074847744 |
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| author | Zainab Akhter Judith Rankin Alice Shackford-Alizart Roger Ackroyd Roland Devlieger Nicola Heslehurst |
| author_facet | Zainab Akhter Judith Rankin Alice Shackford-Alizart Roger Ackroyd Roland Devlieger Nicola Heslehurst |
| author_sort | Zainab Akhter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Preconception bariatric surgery improves obesity-related maternal pregnancy complications but may reduce the absorption of nutrients required for healthy fetal growth and development. Women who receive preconception nutritional support after bariatric surgery are less likely to have adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the provision of preconception and pregnancy-specific nutritional support for women having bariatric surgery in the UK. A mixed-methods survey was distributed to healthcare professionals working in obesity or maternity services between December 2018 and October 2019. We collected both quantitative and qualitative data which were analysed using a mixed-methods approach. We received 135 responses from online (<i>n</i> = 99) and postal (<i>n</i> = 36) questionnaires. Only 45% of participants reported being ‘very familiar’ with the preconception/pregnancy nutritional needs of this population. Barriers to providing nutritional support included: a lack of resources and time; poor communication both across services and with women; not having contact with women preconception; and a lack of information and guidance. Respondents felt that dietitians have the expertise in nutrition necessary to provide support; however, GPs and midwives have the most frequent patient access post-surgery, both before and during pregnancy. Optimal preconception and pregnancy-related nutritional support requires multidisciplinary care pre- and post-surgery, and healthcare professionals require training and guidance to inform practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:00:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe7a71c313534ac1bf54d016860efca6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:00:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe7a71c313534ac1bf54d016860efca62023-11-19T17:38:31ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-10-011520441510.3390/nu15204415Preconception and Pregnancy Nutrition Support for Women with a History of Bariatric Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the UKZainab Akhter0Judith Rankin1Alice Shackford-Alizart2Roger Ackroyd3Roland Devlieger4Nicola Heslehurst5Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UKPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UKPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UKDepartment of Surgery, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield S10 2JF, UKDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UKPreconception bariatric surgery improves obesity-related maternal pregnancy complications but may reduce the absorption of nutrients required for healthy fetal growth and development. Women who receive preconception nutritional support after bariatric surgery are less likely to have adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the provision of preconception and pregnancy-specific nutritional support for women having bariatric surgery in the UK. A mixed-methods survey was distributed to healthcare professionals working in obesity or maternity services between December 2018 and October 2019. We collected both quantitative and qualitative data which were analysed using a mixed-methods approach. We received 135 responses from online (<i>n</i> = 99) and postal (<i>n</i> = 36) questionnaires. Only 45% of participants reported being ‘very familiar’ with the preconception/pregnancy nutritional needs of this population. Barriers to providing nutritional support included: a lack of resources and time; poor communication both across services and with women; not having contact with women preconception; and a lack of information and guidance. Respondents felt that dietitians have the expertise in nutrition necessary to provide support; however, GPs and midwives have the most frequent patient access post-surgery, both before and during pregnancy. Optimal preconception and pregnancy-related nutritional support requires multidisciplinary care pre- and post-surgery, and healthcare professionals require training and guidance to inform practice.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/20/4415pregnancypreconceptionbariatric surgeryobesitynutritioncounselling |
| spellingShingle | Zainab Akhter Judith Rankin Alice Shackford-Alizart Roger Ackroyd Roland Devlieger Nicola Heslehurst Preconception and Pregnancy Nutrition Support for Women with a History of Bariatric Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the UK Nutrients pregnancy preconception bariatric surgery obesity nutrition counselling |
| title | Preconception and Pregnancy Nutrition Support for Women with a History of Bariatric Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the UK |
| title_full | Preconception and Pregnancy Nutrition Support for Women with a History of Bariatric Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the UK |
| title_fullStr | Preconception and Pregnancy Nutrition Support for Women with a History of Bariatric Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preconception and Pregnancy Nutrition Support for Women with a History of Bariatric Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the UK |
| title_short | Preconception and Pregnancy Nutrition Support for Women with a History of Bariatric Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the UK |
| title_sort | preconception and pregnancy nutrition support for women with a history of bariatric surgery a mixed methods survey of healthcare professionals in the uk |
| topic | pregnancy preconception bariatric surgery obesity nutrition counselling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/20/4415 |
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