FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS: KNOWLEDGE AND SCREENING PRACTICES OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL MEDICAL STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), screening, brief alcohol interventions
Abstract
Background
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the leading cause of preventable intellectual disabilities in the United States and a significant public health issue.
Objectives
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and screening practices of pre-clinical medical students and clinical providers on FAS, FASD, and alcohol consumption.
Methods
A short survey sent to medical students and residents on the campus of a large medical school and university hospital.
Results
On the survey of clinical providers, 38% of respondents stated they always survey pregnant women about their alcohol consumption, 34% stated they always screen patients planning to get pregnant, and 9% screen women of childbearing age. There were a significant percentage of providers who never screen women. When questioned regarding safe amounts of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, 69% of preclinical medical students and 67% of clinical providers stated there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption. Clinical providers were much more likely to correctly select the facial features necessary for the diagnosis (p-value < 0.01).
Conclusions
Significant differences exist in the knowledge and screening practices of these different healthcare providers and trainees. Future interventions should seek to improve knowledge on FAS, FASD, and alcohol consumption, in order for practitioners to be more consistent with national guidelines and the Surgeon General recommendations.
References
2. Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF. 2007. 106.2 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. In Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. W.B. Saunders.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2004. Alcohol consumption among women who are pregnant or who might become pregnant—United States, 2002; MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 53:1178-1181.
4. National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. 2004. “Alcohol use during pregnancy: What Ob-Gyns should know.” http://www.nofas.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/05/OB_GYN_front.pdf (September 19, 2012).
5. National Organization on Fetal Alcohol System. “FASD Identification.” http://www.nofas.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/05/identification.pdf (September 19, 2012).
6. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Helping Patients With Alcohol Problems: A Clinician’s Guide. NIH Pub No. 05–3769. Bethesda, MD: The Institute, 2005.
7. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Screening for Alcohol Use and Alcohol Related Problems. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa65/aa65.htm (November 25, 2012).
8. US Department of Health and Human Services. US Surgeon General Advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/pressreleases/sg02222005.html (September 19, 2012).
9. Carson G, Cox LV, Crane J, Croteau P, Graves L, Kluka S, Koren G, Martel MJ, Midmer D, Nulman I, Poole N, Senikas V, Wood R. Alcohol use and pregnancy consensus clinical guidelines. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2010 Aug;32(8 Suppl 3):S1-32.