How well are pregnant women in Croatia informed about the oral glucose tolerance test?

Abstract

IntroductionPreanalytical errors still constitute the largest source of errors in laboratory work. Proper patient preparation and patient’s knowledge about a particular procedure affects its accuracy and reliability. We hypothesized that most of pregnant women are not well enough informed about the proper procedure for the OGTT. The aims of this study were to investigate: (i) how well pregnant women are informed about the OGTT; (ii) the most common way to inform pregnant women about OGTT and (iii) whether pregnant women’s level of knowledge about the OGTT differ regarding source of information.Materials and methodsThe anonymous questionnaire was conducted across the country in 23 Croatian primary and secondary healthcare centres. The questionnaire contained 9 questions on certain demographic data and familiarity with OGTT procedure. All 343 participants filled the questionnaire before the first blood draw.Results42% of the participants demonstrated high and 38% adequate level of knowledge about the OGTT procedure. Majority of participants were informed about the procedure by gynaecologist (56%). The level of knowledge differed among participants with different sources of information (P = 0.030). Further analysis showed that the level of knowledge was lower in pregnant women having received information from their gynaecologist compared to pregnant women who received information from the laboratory staff.ConclusionsIn general, pregnant women are familiar with OGTT procedure, main source of information about the OGTT procedure is their gynaecologist, but the level of knowledge was higher in women who received information about the OGTT procedure from the laboratory staff.

Source of Patient Information: Physician or Laboratory? An Audit of Patient Information on OGTT protocol

“…However, 83% of the patients knew that they were being tested for diabetes. A study by Patricija et al (6) on knowledge of OGTT protocol in pregnant women showed that 42% of the participants demonstrated high and 38% adequate level of knowledge about the OGTT procedure. Majority of participants were informed about the procedure by gynaecologist (56%).Our study was showing lesser percentage of patients being completely informed by their physician.…”

“…According to Randle`s hypothesis (4) . (5,6) . One of the reasons could be lack of effective communication to the patient.…”

The quality and scope of information provided by medical laboratories to patients before laboratory testing: Survey of the Working Group for Patient Preparation of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine

“…There are numerous ways of informing the patients: instructions on the laboratory website, leaflets or other educational material. Evidence has shown that patients tend to seek information from their physicians, rather than from laboratory [22,23]. However, Bankovic Radovanovic and Kocijancic had shown that pregnant women who have received information from the laboratory staff were better informed about oral glucose tolerance test than those who obtained instructions from their gynaecologist [22].…”

“…Evidence has shown that patients tend to seek information from their physicians, rather than from laboratory [22,23]. However, Bankovic Radovanovic and Kocijancic had shown that pregnant women who have received information from the laboratory staff were better informed about oral glucose tolerance test than those who obtained instructions from their gynaecologist [22]. Thus, it is the responsibility of laboratories to educate physicians, whereas national societies for laboratory medicine should be more engaged in delivering recommendations and acting as a link between laboratories and physicians.…”

Where does the Pregnant Women Searching for Their Information Need?

“…14. (Radovanovic & Kocijancic, 2015) Oral glucose tolerance test Gynaecologist, laboratory staff, internet, nowhere…”