(VP056) HEALTH PROFESSIONALS' PRACTICE REGARDING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING PREGNANCY

Background: Over the last three decades, gestational complications have risen in association with advanced maternal age and/or obesity. Although physical activity during pregnancy has been shown to have significant health benefits for the mother and her fetus, including reduced risk of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders, very few women exercise as recommended by the national guidelines. Moreover, it has been reported that medical staff rarely discuss physical activity with their patients during prenatal visits. Given the positive impact that health professionals can have on lifestyle changes, the aim of this study is to document the information they give to pregnant women regarding the practice of physical activity during pregnancy.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A questionnaire was administered using a tablet to pregnant women at their first prenatal visit at the CHUM. This questionnaire is adapted from the pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ) to which socio-demographic questions and questions regarding the prenatal visits have been added (PPAQ+). Thus far, 90 women followed at the CHUM have been recruited. Our preliminary results suggest that over 60% of women do not discuss physical activity with their health professionals. Of the women who did, 35% were not explained the benefits, and 84% did not receive any specific and/or personal recommendations about physical activity practice.

Conclusion: Physical activity is not systematically discussed during the first prenatal visit and, when health professionals touch on the subject, they often do not give any recommendations. It is imperative to improve clinical practice regarding physical activity recommendations as this could lead to better pregnancy outcomes.