Poster Session 3
Category: Diabetes
Poster Session 3
Veronica Maria Pimentel, MD, MS (she/her/hers)
MFM / Resident Research Director
Trinity Health Of New England / Hartford
Trinity Health Of New England / Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Nicole Barreto, MD (she/her/hers)
Post-Graduate Year 1
Bridgeport Hospital
Hamden, Connecticut, United States
Charissa Okang, MD
Trinity Health Of New England
Trinity Health Of New England / Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Dorothy B. Wakefield, MS
Biostatistician
Trinity Health Of New England
Trinity Health Of New England / Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Rebecca Crowell, PhD
Trinity Health Of New Engalnd
Trinity Health Of New England, Connecticut, United States
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) endorses immediate postpartum diabetes (IPD) testing, performed on day 1 or 2. Compared to traditional testing (4-12 weeks postpartum), IPD has a similar diagnostic value and a higher testing completion rate. Yet, most institutions have not implemented IPD testing. Our study aimed to assess obstetricians' and midwives' attitudes, perceived barriers, and support needed to implement IPD testing.
Study Design:
We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of obstetricians (OBs) and midwives practicing in the United States. We evaluated familiarity with the test, willingness to test, barriers to IPD testing, and ways to overcome barriers. Descriptive statistics were performed.
Results:
We surveyed 213 OBs and midwives from September 2024 to July 2025. Of 180 OBs, 46 (25.6%) were MFMs. Half of all respondents worked in academic centers (49.3%), and 33.9% in community hospitals. Overall, 131 (61.5%) were unfamiliar/slightly familiar with IPD testing, and 82 (38.5%) were moderately/extremely familiar. Only 49 (23.0%) knew that ACOG had endorsed IPD, 34 (15.9%) reported that their institution had IPD guidelines, and 10 (4.7%) participants typically performed IPD. Yet, 174 (81.7%) were willing to perform IPD testing, and 148 (69.5%) believed IPD can improve postpartum care. Participants identified perceived barriers to IPD testing and the support needed to overcome barriers. The top three barriers were lack of familiarity with the test (70.0%), expectations that patients would not fast before testing (46.5%), and perceived lack of ACOG endorsement of IPD (40.4%). The top three desired supports were ACOG endorsement (76.1%), hospital protocol (67.6%), and hospital order set (57.3%).
Conclusion:
Most OBs and midwives were willing to perform immediate postpartum diabetes testing. Familiarity with the test, knowledge of ACOG’s endorsement, and institutional protocol and order sets could help with test implementation.