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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Access to prenatal care is an important determinant of successful pregnancy outcomes. A barrier to prenatal care may be poor provider communication. Unfortunately, there is very limited research focusing on patient provider communication and prenatal care. This research study aims to bridge the gap by using qualitative methodology to gain a better understanding of pregnant women’s experiences regarding a range of communication practices and interactions with their prenatal care provider. METHODS: Face-to-face interviews were conducted among pregnant women (18-45 years) in their second or third trimester (n=30) who were receiving prenatal care from various community clinics and health care systems in Lucas County, Ohio. The resulting qualitative data were systematically coded and analyzed to identify themes related to prenatal care and a range of communication practices and interactions. RESULTS: The overarching theme was satisfaction, which was influenced by the overall quality of the encounter and health care system influences. Within the overall quality of the encounter, factors that influence decision-making and communication practices were influential in determining patient’s satisfaction with their prenatal health care provider. In regards to health care system influences, continuity of care, referral for resources, information obtained from another source, and other employee encounters influenced satisfaction with prenatal care. CONCLUSION: Our work identified range of communication practices and interactions that influenced satisfaction among pregnant women. Incorporating findings from this study to improve patient satisfaction during prenatal care visits could provide an increase understanding of many complex variables affecting prenatal care.
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