ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The number of general practitioners (GPs) providing maternity care in New Zealand has declined dramatically since legislative changes of the 1990s. The Ministry of Health wants GPs to provide maternity care again. AIM: To investigate New Zealand general practice registrars' perspectives on GPs' role in maternity care; specifically, whether maternity services should be provided by GPs, registrars' preparedness to provide such services, and training opportunities available or required to achieve this. METHODS: An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to all registrars enrolled in The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners' (RNZCGP's) General Practice Education Programme (GPEP) in 2012, via their online learning platform OWL. RESULTS: 165 of the 643 general practice registrars responded (25.7% response rate). Most (95%) believe that GPs interested and trained in maternity care should consider providing antenatal, postnatal or shared care with midwives, and 95% believe women should be able to access maternity care from their general practice. When practising as a GP, 90% would consider providing antenatal and postnatal care, 47.3% shared care, and 4.3% full pregnancy care. Professional factors including training and adequate funding were most important when considering providing maternity care as a GP. DISCUSSION: Ninety-five percent of general practice registrars who responded to our survey believe that GPs should provide some maternity services, and about 90% would consider providing maternity care in their future practice. Addressing professional issues of training, support and funding are essential if more GPs are to participate in maternity care in New Zealand.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , General Practice/organization & administration , General Practitioners/psychology , Maternal Health Services/organization & administration , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
AIMS: To investigate the perceptions of final year medical students' (known as trainee interns or TIs) at the University of Otago about maternity care in general practice, their possible future roles in general practice maternity care, and factors influencing this. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire using the online programme SurveyMonkey was emailed to the 227 Otago University TIs. Results were analysed using SurveyMonkey statistical analysis. RESULTS: The response rate was 50.7%. About 90% of the TIs thought GPs should provide antenatal and postnatal care, 80.7% supported shared care and 55.7% thought GPs should provide full maternity care if interested and trained to do so. Almost 80% thought women should have access to full maternity care in general practice. If practicing as a GP 90% or more of respondents would consider providing prenatal, early pregnancy, antenatal, postnatal care, or shared care and 64.0% full maternity care. Of the 29 TIs (25.2%) who had seen a GP practicing full maternity care 82.8% would consider offering this level of care if practicing as a GP. And 68.3% of the 65 TIs interested in a rural general practice career would consider providing full maternity care. Issues of training, professional support, funding and continuity of care for patients were important factors in contemplating providing full maternity care. CONCLUSIONS: TIs are interested in providing a wide range of maternity services if practicing as a GP. Many professional and lifestyle issues could influence our future doctors when deciding whether to practice maternity care in general practice.
