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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Sandra Maldague, MPH, Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH), 1101 15th St. NW, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20005, 202-296-1099, smaldague@asph.org, Carol Hogue, PhD, MPH, Women's and Children's Center, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, and Janis Biermann, MS, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 1275 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10605.
When all women of childbearing age consume an adequate amount of folic acid, up to half of neural tube defects will be prevented. Despite the well-established health benefits of folic acid, many women either do not consume it in the required quantity or take it too late to protect their babies. Research suggests that women will improve consumption when they hear clear messages from their health providers. Towards improving provider/client communication, and with support from the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and sponsorship by the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP), the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) developed a web-based short course (45 minutes) for training predoctoral level students in allied health, dentistry, medicine (including osteopathic), nursing, optometry, pharmacy, and public health, about the benefits of folic acid and issues to address in folic acid counseling.
To date, over 400 students across all health professions have participated in the pilot test, with a mean pretest score of 70.83% (S.D.=14.336) and a median score of 69.00%. On the post-test, students performed significantly better (p<0.005 (mean score of 88.97 (S.D.=8.560) and median score of 92.00). Particular progress was noted on test questions relating to: the potential benefits of folic acid in preventing cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, and oral clefts; the percentage of neural tube defects preventable by periconceptional use of folic acid; and the substances that interfere with folic acid absorption. This interdisciplinary strategy, which will be launched in April 2002, has the capability of reaching students in the health professions throughout the United States.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Birth Defects, Education
Related Web page: www.folicacid.net
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: grant from the March of Dimes