Background: Australian and international guidelines recommend that all women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) undertake post-delivery follow up screening to assess regulation of blood glucose levels and monitor an increased risk of developing type two diabetes.
Why mothers fail to complete recommended post-delivery follow up screening after a GDM complicated pregnancy is not well understood [1], however quality of intergroup communication has been implicated [2, 3]
Multiple care settings and care providers are associated with communication problems, miscommunication and communication failures - particularly when pregnancy or birth complications occur. Ineffective communication is associated with negative effects on experiences and outcomes; conversely effective communication is associated with positive outcomes like improved quality of patient care, and patient and clinician satisfaction[2].
Method: Individual in-depth convergent interviews were undertaken with a) mothers following GDM (n=13), b) hospital maternity clinicians caring for GDM mothers (n=10); and c) general practitioners providing postnatal follow up (n=10). Interviews were recorded and transcribed then verified by individual participants. Transcripts were analysed using Leximancer text mining software then interpreted using Communication accommodation theory, to identify intergroup relations and influence on patient care [4].
Results: These results provide the first study of intergroup communication between major stakeholders; patients, hospital, and general practitioners regarding post-delivery follow up screening after GDM.
Implications: Multidisciplinary team care is recommended for women with complications of pregnancy, including GDM. Understanding current intergroup communication may help establish more effective strategies to improve postnatal screening rates of the increasing number of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
References:
1. Keely, E., An opportunity not to be missed-how do we improve postpartum screening rates for women with gestational diabetes? Diabetes Metab Res Rev, 2012. 28(4): p. 312-6.
2. O'Malley, A.S., Referral and Consultation Communication Between Primary Care and Specialist Physicians: Finding Common Ground. Archives of internal medicine (1960), 2011. 171(1): p. 56-65.
3. Keely, E., et al., Screening for type 2 diabetes following gestational diabetes: family physician and patient perspectives. Can Fam Physician, 2010. 56(6): p. 558-63.
4. Hewett, D.G., et al., Intergroup communication between hospital doctors: implications for quality of patient care. Social Science & Medicine, 2009. 69(12): p. 1732-40.