Florida Health Care Providersʼ Knowledge of Folic Acid for the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of an educational program on the knowledge and practice behavior of health care providers regarding folic acid use for the prevention of neural tube defects. A survey was mailed to selected Florida health care providers to determine baseline knowledge and practice behavior. After a statewide educational program, another mail survey was sent to the same groups of providers to determine the effect of the campaign. Comparison between the two surveys showed a significant increase in knowledge and in the percentage of health care providers who recommended the periconceptional use of folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects. Providers graduating in 1992 or later were more likely than those graduating before 1992 to have the appropriate knowledge about folic acid use but were less likely to recommend it to their patients. Significant gains were made in increasing knowledge and changing practice behavior among selected Florida health care providers. Regardless of the magnitude of these gains, our data show that some health care providers who have regular contact with women of childbearing age still do not know the recommended doses of folic acid or do not recommend its use. This points toward the need for continued education as well as efforts to modify provider behavior.