No abstract

These findings raise questions about how preconception care should be provided to women with diabetes and highlight the pivotal importance of supportive, familiar relationships between health professionals and women with diabetes in the provision of individualized care and advice. By improving the quality of relationships and communication between health care providers and patients, we will be better able to provide care and advice that is perceived as relevant to the individual, whatever her stage of family planning.

Knowledge and attitudes reported in this study highlight the need for women with diabetes, regardless of age, marital status or type of diabetes, to receive guidance about planning pregnancy in a motivating, positive and supportive manner. The important patient viewpoints expressed in this study may help health professionals determine how best to encourage women to avail of pre-pregnancy care.

General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Queen's University Belfast Research Portal is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting galley proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. 3 An increased knowledge of the needs and concerns of women with GDM would provide the multidisciplinary diabetes care team and other health care professionals (HCP's), including midwives, with a better understanding on how to support, encourage and educate women to manage their condition more effectively. Long term this could potentially improve pregnancy outcome, helping to reduce the future risk of type 2 diabetes in this population and subsequently pressure on healthcare systems. The aim of this study is therefore to explore the concerns, needs and knowledge of women diagnosed with GDM. Research design and methodsThis qualitative study used focus group methodology, to encourage the generation of ideas and expression of shared experiences and common viewpoints within a group of peers. Eligible participants were identified by the Diabetes Care Team at three National HealthService (NHS) hospitals in the United Kingdom. Women were given an invitation letter at a routine clinic appointment, and those interested in participating completed a permission slip, which allowed the researcher to contact them, and invite them to attend a focus group.Women aged 18-45 years and currently pregnant with GDM, or with a history of GDM in a recent pregnancy (up to 12 months post-natal) were eligible to participate. Those unable to adequately understand verbal explanations in English or who had special communication needs were excluded.Eighty-one women expressed an interest in attending a focus group. Sessions were scheduled at various times and venues in an attempt to suit women and their working and family lives.From this number 38 were enrolled on the study. The remaining women who had expressed an interest in participating were either not able to make it to the scheduled focus group or were no longer contactable. Of the 38 enrolled, five were unwell or in hospital on the day, two delivered before the scheduled session and twelve did not attend the focus group. Focus group discussion topicsThe following topic areas were discussed with the women: 1) current knowledge of GDM; 2)anxiety following the diagnosis of GDM, and whether this changed overtime; 3) understanding and managing GDM and 4) the future impact of GDM. Descriptive qualitative analys...