Aim: Iron deficiency anaemia is a common medical problem in pregnancy. In women delivering their babies at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in 2015 only 3.2% or non-anaemia patients needed a blood transfusion whereas anaemic women had a six times higher change of needing blood. The rate of anaemia at delivery (12.3%) was higher than peer hospitals. A clinical practice improvement (CPI) project was initiated in order to maximise haemoglobin and iron levels during pregnancy. This project involved implementation of haemoglobin assessment and optimisation flowcharts as well as a patient information handout on oral iron preparations and doses. A component of the project involved a telephone audit to assess whether the patient information handout was being used and if it was helpful.
Methods: 30 patients with iron deficiency seen in antenatal clinic between January and April 2017 were contacted by telephone and asked a series of questions. Health practitioners using the handout in antenatal clinic were also asked for feedback.
Results: Only 44% of patients audited reported having received the handout, however of those that did receive the handout 82% found it helpful and a majority of them purchased iron tablets and continued treatment.
Conclusions: Adaptation of the oral iron preparation handout was found to be very useful by both health practitioners and patients and can help overcome barriers to oral iron supplementation in pregnancy.