Institute of medicine 2009 gestational weight gain guideline knowledge: survey of obstetrics/gynecology and family medicine residents of the United States

Abstract

Background: In 2009, the Institute of Medicine revised gestational weight gain recommendations; revisions included body mass index (BMI) category cut-point changes and provision of range of gain for obese women. Our objective was to examine resident prenatal caregivers' knowledge of revised guidelines.

Methods: Anonymous electronic survey of obstetrics/gynecology and family medicine residents across the United States from January to April 2010.

Results: Overall, 660 completed the survey; 79 percent female and 69 percent aged between 21 and 30. When permitted to select ≥ 1 response, 87.0 percent reported using BMI to assess weight status at initial visits, 44.4 percent reported using "clinical impression based on patient appearance," and 1.4 percent reported not using any parameters. When asked the most important baseline parameter for providing recommendations, 35.8 percent correctly identified prepregnancy BMI, 2.1 percent reported "I don't provide guidelines," and 4.5 percent reported "I do not discuss gestational weight gain." Among respondents, 57.6 percent reported not being aware of new guidelines. Only 7.6 percent selected correct BMI ranges for each category, and only 5.8 percent selected correct gestational weight gain ranges. Only 2.3 percent correctly identified both BMI cutoffs and recommended gestational weight gain ranges per 2009 guidelines.

Conclusions: Guideline knowledge is the foundation of accurate counseling, yet resident prenatal caregivers were minimally aware of the 2009 Institute of Medicine gestational weight gain guidelines almost a year after their publication.

Keywords: counseling; pregnancy; weight gain.

Figure 1. Residents’ knowledge of body mass index (BMI) ranges associated with Institute of Medicine 2009 gestational weight gain recommendations, by patients’ pre-pregnancy weight status

Black bars represent answers corresponding to BMI cutoffs included in the 2009 Institute of Medicine gestational weight gain recommendations; white bars represent incorrect answers. Only respondents who selected one answer are included in this graph.