Protecting Families From Alcohol Harms
The health and wellbeing of families and communities can be adversely impacted by alcohol consumption during pregnancy, including by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder — the leading cause of non-genetic, developmental disability in Australia. The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) appointed Heartward to explore the role of health professionals as families’ key source of advice and information about alcohol consumption during pregnancy and to inform the development of a National Awareness Campaign regarding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
“The research identified the type of support health professionals need to increase both their opportunities to engage with families, and their capability to communicate consistent messages, to prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies.”
The research comprised a rapid evidence review, as well as 36 in-depth interviews with a broad range of health professionals who see women during and in relation to pregnancy. The key research challenge was the need to apply qualitative interview approaches to uncover the attitudes and behaviour of health professionals that lie outside social norms and perceptions of appropriate responses.
The research found that shared-care GPs, GPs, midwives, First Nations health workers, and relevant nurses, could potentially increase their role in communicating with families about alcohol and pregnancy. While other health professionals such as pharmacists, nutritionists/dieticians and naturopaths were suited to having a supporting role in displaying and/or distributing materials and/or consistently reinforcing the message women to speak with their main pregnancy healthcare professionals about alcohol.
The findings highlighted opportunities at all stages of pregnancy to help reduce the incidence of alcohol-exposure, especially at pre-conception/planning and confirmation/early pregnancy, and even revisiting the topic throughout pregnancy. Messaging about alcohol consumption that aligned with the relevant guidelines, and delivered universally and consistently throughout pregnancy, was identified as a priority.
The support health professionals required to help reduce the incidence of alcohol-exposed pregnancies included increasing their:
Skills and confidence to effectively and sensitively discuss alcohol with women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy
Knowledge of clinical care and alcohol guidelines and ensuring recognition that alcohol consumption can be under-reported and can change over the course of the pregnancy
Understanding and consideration of the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy
Awareness of the importance of their role in delivering a consistent message about alcohol consumption.
The research conducted by Heartward was presented at a conference for health professionals in 2022, where it received acknowledgment for excellence. The full report can be found here.