12 research outputs found

    Patient and provider perspectives on preterm birth risk assessment and communication.

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    ObjectiveTo describe and compare how obstetric patients and care providers view preterm birth risk assessment and communication.MethodsWe conducted eight focus groups with obstetric patients (n = 35) and 16 qualitative interviews with obstetric providers. Grounded theory was used to identify and analyze themes.ResultsPatients' knowledge about preterm birth varied greatly. Similar benefits and risks of preterm birth risk counseling were discussed by patients and providers with notable exceptions: patients cited preparedness as a benefit and providers cited maternal blame, patient alienation, and estimate uncertainty as potential risks. Most patients expressed a desire to know their personalized preterm birth risk during pregnancy. Providers differed in whether they offer universal versus selective, and quantitative versus qualitative, preterm birth risk counseling. Many providers expressed concern about discussing social and structural risk factors for preterm birth.ConclusionWhile many patients desired knowing their personalized preterm birth risk, prenatal care providers' disclosure practices vary because of uncertainty of estimates, concerns about negative consequences and challenges of addressing systemic inequities and social determinants of health.Practice implicationsGiven the existing asymmetry of information about preterm birth risk, providers should consider patient preferences regarding and potential benefits and risks of such disclosure in their practice

    Sugary beverage and food consumption, and leukocyte telomere length maintenance in pregnant women

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    Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) has been inversely associated with sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption in cross-sectional studies, but no studies have examined whether dietary intake influences LTL over time. This study examined longitudinal associations between sugary foods and beverages and LTL. Participants were 65 overweight and obese pregnant women, aged 18-45, from a mindfulness intervention study conducted from early pregnancy (≤16 weeks gestation) and followed through 9 months postpartum. During pregnancy and postpartum, dietary intake was measured with 24-hour diet recalls and LTL was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics, decreased SSB consumption from baseline to 9 months postpartum was associated with greater concurrent LTL lengthening (β= −0.102, 95% CI −0.192, −0.013). No associations between sugary foods and LTL were found in either period. The finding that reduced SSB consumption is associated with increased LTL warrants investigation in large cohort studies
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