Date of Award
11-25-2024
Publication Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Kinesiology
Keywords
hypertensive disorders. pregnancy, prenatal physical activity, prescription, providers, risk reduction
Supervisor
C McGowan
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, increase acute complications, maternal mortality, and development of hypertension and coronary artery disease later in life. Prenatal physical activity (PPA) reduces the risk of HDP development. Obstetric care providers (OCPs) are crucial in advising patients on the best practices of PPA. Despite the belief among OCPs in other developed countries that PPA is beneficial, few are familiar with endorsed guidelines or discuss PPA with their patients. The purpose of this study was to explore what OCPs believe, know, and practice with respect to PPA and its prescription. Semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted with Canadian nurse practitioners (NPs) (n = 2; 39.5 ± 4.9 (X ± SD) years of age) and midwives (n = 4; 39.5 ± 7.3 years of age). Four overarching themes were identified using reflexive thematic analysis: 1) Restricted Scope of PPA Practice for HDP, 2) PPA is Very Important for Health in and Beyond Pregnancy, 3) PPA is a Highly Individualized Patient Experience, and 4) Lack of Training in PPA Among Providers. While prescription practices were limited due to HDP referral protocols, all participants strongly believed in the benefits and importance of PPA. This belief stemmed from experience, knowledge of Canadian PPA guidelines and evidence-based literature. PPA recommendations were individualized yet grounded in national guidelines. Participants identified a gap in PPA training and provided suggestions for improvement. Taken together, this work lays the foundation for optimizing OCP recommendation and patient uptake of PPA.
Recommended Citation
Ceman, Lauren, "Reducing the Risk of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Understanding Providers' Beliefs, Knowledge, and Practices of Prenatal Physical Activity Prescription" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 9610.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/9610