Information Needs and Counseling Preferences among Potential Users of the Future Teratology Information Service in Belgium: A Cross-Sectional Study Involving the Public and Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

A Teratology Information Service (TIS) does not exist in Belgium yet but will hopefully be established soon. To prepare for this, we aimed to provide insight into the information needs and counseling preferences of the Belgian public and healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding medication use in pregnancy and breastfeeding. A cross-sectional study using two anonymous, online surveys disseminated via social media, websites, and newsletters addressing Dutch and French-speaking individuals (≥18 years) and licensed HCPs was performed between June and September 2020. Ethics approval and informed consent were obtained. In total, 1508 public survey respondents (98% women) and 702 HCPs participated. Information needs on perinatal medication use were ubiquitous among both groups, and for which they often relied on patient information leaflets or the product information and online fora. Conflicting information on this topic regularly occurs and complicates HCPs’ duties. Women and HCPs assigned an important role to a TIS, both in terms of providing evidence-based information (via a website or app) and being accessible to be contacted in case of questions (by phone or via e-mail or chat). In conclusion, a TIS would be warmly welcomed by women and HCPs in Belgium and should ideally be established soon to address current information needs regarding perinatal medication use and to contribute to research in this field.