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Folic Acid Resources for Health Care Professionals
“Quantitative surveys conducted over the past four years have identified a gap between the high level of knowledge, and relatively low level of practice, among health care providers with respect to making specific recommendations about folic acid (FA), and with respect to the provision of preconceptional care.” 
--Needs Assessment Among Health Care Practitioners Regarding Gap between Guidelines and Practice With Respect to Folic Acid, 2006, March of Dimes, CDC Report

How do we close this gap? Listed below are links to existing national and state programs developed to address educating the healthcare professional in regards to folic acid and neural tube defects as well as tools to assist in narrowing this gap.

Reports

Learning Modules

Tools

REPORTS

Needs Assessment Among Health Care Practitioners Regarding Gap between Guidelines and Practice With Respect to Folic Acid, 2006, March of Dimes, CDC Report

This qualitative needs assessment was intended to identify reasons for the gap between knowledge and practice; identify how providers who do incorporate practice guidelines regarding folic acid and preconception care are able to do so; assess barriers to change; and brainstorm strategies or interventions that would lead to significant improvement in implementation of these guidelines within health care practices.

Archived presentation of results:
http://cdc.confex.com/cdc/pcs2007/techprogram/P13424.HTM

Health Care Knowledge and Practices Regarding Folic Acid, United States, 2002-2003

Results of two surveys given to 1111 HCP’s in 2002/2003 to assess their knowledge and practices regarding folic acid use for neural tube defect prevention. March of Dimes/CDC.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/v70j2l0p926445x8/fulltext.pdf

Improving Preconception Health: Women’s Knowledge and Use of Folic Acid
Since 1995, the March of Dimes has commissioned Gallup to conduct surveys to measure women's awareness and behavior relative to folic acid and other pre-pregnancy health issues. Several questions relate to HCP’s.

http://www.marchofdimes.com/peristats/tlanding.aspx?reg=99&top=13&lev=0&slev=1

 

LEARNING MODULES

Got a Minute? 

Developed by the National Spina Bifida Association, informational only, has a version that can be read in 1 minute.

http://sba-resource.org/gotaminute/story_folicacid_main.html

ABCs of Folic Acid Counseling

Developed by National Spina Bifida Association in collaboration with CDC.  Offers CEU credit for nurses and health educators.
  
http://sba-resource.org/sbaacd/

Advocating For Folic Acid: A Guide for Health Professionals

An interactive on-line module whose goal is to train health professionals and students to counsel on the benefits of folic acid in the prevention of birth defects and other conditions. Developed by Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) and the March of Dimes.

http://folicacid.net/

Folic Acid and the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects

This free educational CD-Rom, developed by perinatologist , Dr. Jordan Perlow and produced by the Arizona March of Dimes Chapter provides the background and understanding of folic acid and neural tube defects.

http://www.marchofdimes.com/files/chapterFiles/AZ_CD_ROMS_-_FOLIC_ACID_-_PREMATURITY.pdf 

Birth Defects Prevention: Realizing the Full Potential of Folic Acid

This archived webinar will seek to increase knowledge and awareness of folic acid and its role in birth defect prevention and the opportunities that exist in public health practice to increase the consumption of folic acid among women of childbearing age.

http://www.publichealthgrandrounds.unc.edu./folic/index.htm

The National Preconception Curriculum and Resources Guide for Clinicians

On-line CME modules under development by UNC-School of Medicine and Albert Einstein School of Medicine in conjunction with the CDC. Covers folic acid and neural tube defects as well as other preconception issues. CEU’s offered.

  • Module 1: Preconception Care: What It Is and What It Isn't
  • Module 2: Every Woman, Every Time: Integrating Health Promotion Into Primary Care
  • Module 3: Maximizing Prevention: Targeted Care for Those with High Risk Conditions
  • Module 4: In Between Time: Interconceptional Care for Those with Previous Poor Outcomes
  • Module 5: Babies to Adolescents: Incorporating Preconception Health Promotion into the Pediatric Visit

http://www.mombaby.org/beforeandbeyond/

 

TOOLS

Folic Acid Everyday Toolkit

Originally produced for the Florida Department of Health and the March of Dimes, this training kit guides health educators, nutritionists and discussion leaders through individual and group lessons and activities designed to educate women, especially those considering pregnancy, on the benefits of folic acid in a healthy diet. The kit contains a facilitator's master notebook, which includes lessons plans, discussions topics and handouts; an interactive CD-ROM with a PowerPoint slide presentation; and videos on folic acid (10 minutes) and preventing neural tube defects (22 minutes).

http://ifasbooks.ufl.edu/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=IFASBOOKS&Product_Code=SP+291

Healthy Birth Toolkit

The “Healthy Birth Toolkit” is a compendium of tools, strategies, and materials for health care professionals to use to address disparate perinatal outcomes. It was developed by Wisconsin Association of Perinatal Care. Included are: Folic Acid: A Position Statement for Providers and Prescription for a Healthy Future.  Individual items may be ordered and some items may be downloaded.

http://www.perinatalweb.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=41

Health Care Provider’s Tips

Flyer cards designed for health care professionals who deal with women of childbearing age. Cards are specific for OB/GYN, pediatrics, primary care, dieticians or pharmacists and provide a summary of folic acid recommendations. Available free from CDC.

http://www2a.cdc.gov/ncbddd/faorder/orderform.htm#CDC-099-9069

Folic Acid Counseling Pocket Card

Quick reference card for healthcare professionals that fits in the white coat pocket (English). Spanish version is designed for community educators.

http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/site/apps/ka/ec/category.asp?c=liKWL7PLLrF&b=2705387&en=grKHIYOHI8LGKVNAI7LGIZPKIpI1J3NxFaKSK9NLIiJMLYOMLvF

Office Champion Program

A health care professional education initiative developed by NC Folic Acid Council (NCFAC). The program provides in-office educational sessions to public and private health care settings throughout NC. A volunteer within the office, Office Champion, remains in contact with the NCFAC regional coordinator and encourages the HCP’s within the office to talk to all patients of childbearing age about multivitamins with folic acid.

Description of program on archived webcast: http://webcast.hrsa.gov/Postevents/archivedWebcastDetailNewInterface.asp?aeid=352

Educational video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQWqTOAO5Jg

Contact Linda Morgan, Linda.morgan@msj.org for more information.

 

 
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