Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:
Pregnant women are often unsure how to adapt their nutritional habits to meet the optimal nutrient supply for their unborn child and to prevent food-borne infections. Evidence-based patient information (EBPI) about an adequate nutrition during pregnancy is extremely important. EBPI can diminish the high uncertainty most women experience during this time and support them in their personal risk assessment. Nutrition brochures for pregnant women are available in Germany, but not all of them comply with EBPI criteria, which is a prerequisite for informed patient choice.
Objectives:
To evaluate nutrition brochures for pregnant women in Germany based on EBPI criteria.
Methods:
Nutrition brochures for pregnant women in Germany were obtained from potential holding organizations, institutions, gynecologists and internet searches. Brochures addressing the risk of salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis and listeriosis were included. Two researchers independently analyzed brochures according to EBPI-criteria. Additionally, a systematic review about the risk of salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis and listeriosis during pregnancy was carried out to evaluate if nutrition brochures provide the current available evidence. Results were synthesized in a narrative way.
Results:
One-hundred and fifty-five (155) nutrition brochures for pregnant women were obtained. From these, 50 brochures that provided information on the risk of infection were included in the analysis. Most brochures did not include literature citations and only few brochures gave a risk description (table 1). Advertising for supplementary products was present in 22% of the analyzed brochures. Results of the systematic review showed an incidence rate of toxoplasmosis of up to 4% in susceptible pregnant women. No studies analyzing the risk of salmonellosis or listeriosis were identified.
Conclusions:
Nutrition brochures for pregnant women in Germany should be adapted to comply with EBPI criteria to achieve a better quality of disseminated information. This is relevant not only to pregnant woman, but also to those responsible for creating brochures, and to physicians in charge of patient information.
Pregnant women are often unsure how to adapt their nutritional habits to meet the optimal nutrient supply for their unborn child and to prevent food-borne infections. Evidence-based patient information (EBPI) about an adequate nutrition during pregnancy is extremely important. EBPI can diminish the high uncertainty most women experience during this time and support them in their personal risk assessment. Nutrition brochures for pregnant women are available in Germany, but not all of them comply with EBPI criteria, which is a prerequisite for informed patient choice.
Objectives:
To evaluate nutrition brochures for pregnant women in Germany based on EBPI criteria.
Methods:
Nutrition brochures for pregnant women in Germany were obtained from potential holding organizations, institutions, gynecologists and internet searches. Brochures addressing the risk of salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis and listeriosis were included. Two researchers independently analyzed brochures according to EBPI-criteria. Additionally, a systematic review about the risk of salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis and listeriosis during pregnancy was carried out to evaluate if nutrition brochures provide the current available evidence. Results were synthesized in a narrative way.
Results:
One-hundred and fifty-five (155) nutrition brochures for pregnant women were obtained. From these, 50 brochures that provided information on the risk of infection were included in the analysis. Most brochures did not include literature citations and only few brochures gave a risk description (table 1). Advertising for supplementary products was present in 22% of the analyzed brochures. Results of the systematic review showed an incidence rate of toxoplasmosis of up to 4% in susceptible pregnant women. No studies analyzing the risk of salmonellosis or listeriosis were identified.
Conclusions:
Nutrition brochures for pregnant women in Germany should be adapted to comply with EBPI criteria to achieve a better quality of disseminated information. This is relevant not only to pregnant woman, but also to those responsible for creating brochures, and to physicians in charge of patient information.