ABSTRACT
Background & Purpose: Hypertension Canada's 2020 clinical practice guidelines emphasize the importance of education and cardiovascular risk reduction for patients after the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). While 18 specialized clinics across Canada were developed to address this clinical need, they are limited by low rates of patient follow-up. Understanding the experiences and preferences of patients attending these clinics may help improve attendance and ultimately health outcomes. As such, this study's objective was to examine the experiences of patients attending Calgary's PreVASC clinic (which offers an initial consultation 3-6 months after delivery and annual follow-up for CVD risk factor screening and management) to inform CVD preventive care tailored for people after HDP. Method(s): This multi-method study was conducted in two stages: 1) quantitative electronic survey of patient experiences;and 2) individual semi-structured interviews conducted by phone. Eligible participants included patients who attended at least one clinic visit and consented to participate. Quantitative survey results were summarized with descriptive statistics and qualitative interviews were grouped thematically by two independent reviewers. Results were triangulated between the survey and interviews. Result(s): 74 of 115 (64%) eligible patients consented and 57% (n=42) completed the electronicsurvey. Overall, 79% (n=33) of patients reported being very satisfied with the PreVASC clinic;95% (n=40) reported making at least one health behavior change (e.g., heart-healthy diet or increasing physical activity);and 31% (n=23) reported a medication change. 11 participants completed interviews to achieve theme saturation which found improvements in health literacy and reductions in anxiety levels. Patients reported preferences for a specialty care provider and face-to-face visits despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion(s): While patients reported high-satisfaction with an in-person model of CVD preventive care, additional research should examine the long-term impacts of clinical programs specifically tailored for people after HDP on patient-important health outcomes.