Abu-Hammad Talab, Dreiher Jacob, Vardy Daniel A, Cohen Arnon D
Clalit Health Services, Southern District, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Med Sci Monit. 2008 May;14(5):CR262-267.
Pre-conceptional folic acid supplementation is an effective way to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs). Primary care providers are an important source of information to promote folic acid intake. This study aimed at evaluating primary care physicians' knowledge and attitudes regarding folic acid supplementation for childbearing women.
MATERIAL/METHODS: A questionnaire on physicians' knowledge and attitudes, mostly including multiple-choice questions, was delivered by mail to all physicians (n=370) in a large health provider organization in southern Israel in 2006. Data regarding demographics as well as type of specialty, experience, and place of work were collected.
Eighty-seven physicians were included in the study (response rate: 24%). Seventy physicians out of 81 (94%) reported routine recommendation of folic acid for their patients. Most physicians admitted that they needed more information regarding folic acid supplementation. Knowledge about folic acid's role in preventing congenital anomalies was suboptimal, with 2% of the physicians correctly estimating the efficacy of folic acid in decreasing the risk of NTDs and 8% recognizing the association between folic acid supplementation and decreased prevalence of malformations other than NTDs. Knowledge about the correct timing (12%) and dosage (47%) of folic acid preparations for average-risk women was also lacking.
Primary care physicians report that they routinely prescribe folic acid to women in childbearing age in order to prevent congenital anomalies, but their knowledge about folic acid supplementation is insufficient.
孕前补充叶酸是降低神经管缺陷（NTDs）发生率的有效方法。初级保健提供者是促进叶酸摄入的重要信息来源。本研究旨在评估初级保健医生对育龄妇女补充叶酸的知识和态度。
材料/方法：2006年，一份关于医生知识和态度的问卷（主要包括多项选择题）通过邮件发送给以色列南部一家大型医疗服务机构的所有医生（n = 370）。收集了有关人口统计学以及专业类型、经验和工作地点的数据。
87名医生纳入研究（回复率：24%）。81名医生中有70名（94%）报告为患者常规推荐叶酸。大多数医生承认他们需要更多关于叶酸补充的信息。关于叶酸在预防先天性异常中的作用的知识并不理想，只有2%的医生正确估计了叶酸降低NTDs风险的功效，8%的医生认识到叶酸补充与NTDs以外的畸形患病率降低之间的关联。对于平均风险女性叶酸制剂的正确服用时间（12%）和剂量（47%）的知识也很缺乏。
初级保健医生报告说，他们为育龄妇女常规开叶酸以预防先天性异常，但他们关于叶酸补充的知识不足。
