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Article Summary – How Personal Perspectives Shape Health Professionals’ Perceptions of FASD and Risk

computer-3343887_960_720.jpgBackground:

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a condition that has historically been poorly understood, resulting in inconsistencies in public health practitioners’ management, prevention, and understanding of this disorder. As a result, there are widespread international differences in health care practice regarding FASD.

Researchers have shown that health care practitioners and service providers are often working in a space of incomplete information in regard to issues such as FASD. As a result, their professional practice may be, at least in part, informed by their personal values and experiences that fill these knowledge gaps resulting from a lack of information. This practice means that “non-clinical factors” (i.e., personal viewpoints, experiences, values, beliefs, and observations) may be influencing the quality of care and services provided to individuals with FASD and their families.

This research looks at the personal perspectives of health practitioners in relation to alcohol and pregnancy in order to understand if their professional practice is significantly impacted by these non-clinical factors.

This study is based off data collected from interviews with various health and social services practitioners in New Zealand. While some comments made by practitioners in this study parallel data collected in other communities, it is important to note that the findings themselves cannot be extrapolated to explain the attitudes and opinions of health and social service practitioners in other countries, or at different points in time.

Main Findings:

The authors of this study identified four major themes regarding practitioners’ perceptions of alcohol and risk:

  1. Personal Reflections on Alcohol Consumption and Pregnancy
  2. Reflections on Other’s Prenatal Alcohol Consumption
  3. Social Constructions of Alcohol Use and Misuse
  4. Alcohol Compared to Other Drugs

From these themes, the researchers came to the following conclusions:

Recommendations:

Take home message:

Health care practitioners and service providers often have an incomplete understanding of best practices surrounding FASD prevention and intervention. Discussions with health and social service practitioners in New Zealand found that the non-clinical factors, such as personal experience and opinions, are influencing their professional practice in relation to FASD prevention and intervention. Consistent, evidence-based training programs for health professionals are sorely needed to improve FASD practice.

Authors: Kerryn Bagley and Dorothy Badry

Date: 31 May 2019

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