• J A Gazmararian, M E Cogswell, and J P Koplan.
• Prudential Center for Health Care Research, Atlanta, GA 30339, USA.
• HMO Pract. 1996 Sep 1; 10 (3): 108-13.

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between characteristics of obstetrician-gynecologists and rates of recommended prenatal care screening tests.DesignRetrospective review of prenatal care records.SettingPrudential HealthCare.ParticipantsEnrolled women (2184) between 14 to 47 years of age who delivered a live birth in 1992, and saw an obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) physician for prenatal care.Main Outcome MeasureReceipt of routine prenatal care screening tests.ResultsPregnant women received most of the recommended prenatal care screening tests more than 90% of the time, with the exception of urinalysis (68.3%), alphafetoprotein (72.1%), glucose challenge (87.5%), and repeat haemoglobin/hematocrit (71.0%). Rates of receiving recommended screening tests varied by obstetrician's gender and number of years since medical school graduation. Women were more likely to receive an antibody test if they saw a female rather than a male obstetrician (p < 0.05), and more likely to receive syphilis serology, rubella, glucose challenge and repeat hemoglobin and/or hematocrit tests if they saw an obstetrician who graduated from medical school within the past 30 years (1965 or later), rather than an obstetrician who graduated more than 30 years ago (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe receipt of prenatal care screening tests varies by characteristics of OB/GYN physicians. The results of this study suggest that targeting educational opportunities to OB/GYN physicians whose year of medical school graduation is 1965 or earlier may improve rates of recommended prenatal screening tests.

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