A Social-Ecological Model Exploring Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Screening Practices Among Antenatal Health Care Providers.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse health outcomes for the pregnant individual and their baby. Screening approaches for GDM have undergone several iterations, introducing variability in practice among healthcare providers. As such, our study aimed to explore the views of antenatal providers regarding their practices of, and counseling experiences on the topic of, GDM screening in Ontario. We conducted a qualitative, grounded theory study. The study population included antenatal providers (midwives, family physicians, and obstetricians) practicing in Hamilton, Ottawa, or Sudbury, Ontario. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive coding upon which codes, categories, and themes were developed to generate a theory grounded in the data. Twenty-two participants were interviewed. Using the social-ecological theory, we created a model outlining four contextual levels that shaped the experiences of GDM counseling and screening: Intrapersonal factors included beliefs, knowledge, and skills; interpersonal factors characterized the patient-provider interactions; organizational strengths and challenges shaped collaboration and health services infrastructure; and finally, guidelines and policies were identified as systemic barriers to health care access and delivery. A focus on patient-centered care was a guiding principle for all care providers and permeated all four levels of the model. Patient-centered care and close attention to barriers and facilitators across intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, and policy domains can minimize the impact of variations in GDM screening guidelines. Among care providers, there is a desire for additional skill development related to GDM counseling, and for national consensus on optimal screening guidelines.

Mediating expectations and experiences that influence birth experiences in Canada's first Alongside Midwifery Unit.

BACKGROUND: Globally, midwifery-led birthing units are associated with excellent maternal and neonatal outcomes, and positive childbirth experiences. However, little is known about what aspects of midwife-led units contribute to favorable experiences and overall satisfaction. Our aim was to explore and describe midwifery service user experiences at Canada's first Alongside Midwifery Unit (AMU). METHODS: We used a qualitative, grounded theory approach using semi-structured interviews with recipients of midwifery care at the AMU. FINDINGS: Data were collected from twenty-eight participants between September 2018 and March 2020. Our generated theory explains how birth experiences and satisfaction were influenced by how well the AMU aligned with expectations or desired experiences related to the following four themes: (1) maintaining the midwifery model of care, (2) emphasizing control and choice, (3) facilitating interprofessional relationships, and (4) appreciating the unique AMU birthing environment. CONCLUSION: Canada's first AMU met or exceeded service-user expectations, resulting in high levels of satisfaction with their birth experience. Maintaining core elements of the midwifery model of care, promoting high levels of autonomy, and facilitating positive interprofessional interactions are crucial elements contributing to childbirth satisfaction in the AMU environment.

Exploring patients' perspectives of gestational diabetes mellitus screening and counselling in Ontario: A grounded theory study.

INTRODUCTION: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Approaches to screening for GDM continue to evolve, introducing potential variability of care. This study explored the impact of these variations on GDM counselling and screening from the perspectives of pregnant individuals. METHODS: Following a Corbin and Strauss approach to qualitative, grounded theory we recruited 28 individuals from three cities in Ontario, Canada who had a singleton pregnancy under the care of either a midwife, family physician or obstetrician. Convenience and purposive sampling techniques were used. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim between March and December 2020. Transcripts were analysed inductively resulting in codes, categories and themes. RESULTS: Three themes were derived from the data about GDM screening and counselling: 'informing oneself', 'deciding' and 'screening'. All participants, regardless of geographical region, or antenatal care provider, moved through these three steps during the GDM counselling and screening process. Differences in counselling approaches between pregnancy care providers were noted throughout the 'informing' and 'deciding' stages of care. Factors influencing these differences included communication, healthcare autonomy and patient motivation to engage with health services. No differences were noted within care provider groups across the three geographic regions. Participant experiences of GDM screening were influenced by logistical challenges and personal preferences towards testing. CONCLUSION: Informing oneself about GDM may be a crucial step for facilitating decision-making and screening uptake, with an emphasis on information provision to facilitate patient autonomy and motivation. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Participants of our study included patients and service users. Participants were actively involved in the study design due to the qualitative, patient-centred nature of the research methods employed. Analysis of results was structured according to the emergent themes of the data which were grounded in patient perspectives and experiences.

A framework for understanding how midwives perceive and provide care management for pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Both gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are common, and each are associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Midwives may be the first point of care when these conditions arise. This study evaluated the experiences of midwives when providing care to women and people with pregnancies complicated by GDM or HDP. METHODS: A mixed methods study was completed in Ontario, Canada, using a sequential, explanatory approach. A total of 144 online surveys were completed by midwives, followed by 20 semi-structured interviews that were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Thematic analysis was used to generate codes from the interview data, which were mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), to elucidate factors that might influence management. RESULTS: Most of the midwives' clinical behaviours relating to GDM or HDP were in keeping with guidelines and regulatory standards set by existing provincial standards. Six theoretical domains from the TDF appeared to influence midwives'care pathway: "Internal influences" included knowledge, skills and beliefs about capabilities; while "external influences" included social/professional role and identity, environmental context, and social influences. Interprofessional collaboration emerged as a significant factor on both the internal and external levels of influence. CONCLUSIONS: We identified barriers and facilitators that may improve the experiences of midwives and clients when GDM or HDP newly arises in a pregnancy, necessitating further consultation or management by another health care provider.

Growth and body composition trajectories in infants meeting the WHO growth standards study requirements.

BACKGROUND: While the World Health Organization (WHO) developed postnatal growth standards for infants, corresponding body composition data remains scarce. This study explores growth and body composition trajectories in infants meeting the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS) eligibility criteria. STUDY DESIGN: Infants enrolled in this longitudinal cohort underwent anthropometric and body composition measurement by air displacement plethysmography (ADP) at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 5 months postnatally. Age and sex-specific growth and body composition percentiles were generated using GAMLSS, with extrapolated data at 5 months for those exceeding ADP weight limits. We evaluated which anthropometric measure (body mass index (BMI), weight for length or mid upper arm circumference) was most closely related to adiposity. RESULTS: Of the 225 infants with body composition measures, 187 met the WHO MGRS criteria. Their length and weight curves were comparable with WHO growth curves. Trajectory curves for fat and fat-free mass were developed. Of the anthropometric measures, BMI z score was most closely related to fat mass index z score at all timepoints. CONCLUSION: This study presents body composition trajectories for infants meeting the WHO growth standard criteria. BMI z score is the best anthropometric metric to estimate adiposity in infants. IMPACT: While postnatal growth standards derived from the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS) exist for the routine clinical assessment of infant growth, this study fills the previous gap in the availability of corresponding body composition data for term-born, healthy, breastfed infants meeting the MGRS criteria. Extrapolation was used to obtain body composition values for infants exceeding the weight limit of the ADP device, to avoid construction of biased body composition curves. Sex-specific growth curves for fat mass, fat-free mass, fat mass index, and fat-free mass index are presented for a population meeting the World Health Organization growth standard criteria.

Midwives perceptions of managing pregnancies complicated by obesity: A mixed methods study.

OBJECTIVE: The growing prevalence of obesity is a concern for midwives. In Canada, the absence of regulatory standards, varying protocols and consultant preferences shape clinical decision making for the midwife and may lead to inconsistent practice. Our aim was to understand the barriers, enablers, and knowledge gaps that influenced experiences of midwives in Ontario, Canada when providing care to clients impacted by obesity. METHODS: Mixed methods design using a sequential, explanatory approach. Surveys conducted with midwives were administered using an online platform, followed by semi-structured interviews to understand the perspectives elicited in the survey in greater detail. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and thematic analysis was used for generating codes, categories and themes from the interview data. RESULTS: 144 midwives completed the survey and 20 participated in an interview. The participants described their clinical management when caring for those with obesity which included considerations regarding additional tests/investigations, consultation and transfer of care, and place of birth. Up to 93% of surveyed midwives believed that clients with obesity were appropriate for midwifery-led care however there was less certainty about suitability as BMI increased to higher ranges such as > 45). The care management was influenced by beliefs and attitudes, knowledge, and system-level factors. Midwives experienced barriers such as inconsistent practices and role confusion, and felt ill equipped to care for pregnancies affected by obesity due to unclear guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, midwives believe clients with obesity are suitable for midwifery-led care due to its individualized, non-judgmental approach to care. Additional training for midwives and other obstetric care providers would be beneficial to help overcome barriers in providing effective care to pregnancies affected by obesity.

Infants' First Solid Foods: Impact on Gut Microbiota Development in Two Intercontinental Cohorts.

The introduction of solid foods is an important dietary event during infancy that causes profound shifts in the gut microbial composition towards a more adult-like state. Infant gut bacterial dynamics, especially in relation to nutritional intake remain understudied. Over 2 weeks surrounding the time of solid food introduction, the day-to-day dynamics in the gut microbiomes of 24 healthy, full-term infants from the Baby, Food & Mi and LucKi-Gut cohort studies were investigated in relation to their dietary intake. Microbial richness (observed species) and diversity (Shannon index) increased over time and were positively associated with dietary diversity. Microbial community structure (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity) was determined predominantly by individual and age (days). The extent of change in community structure in the introductory period was negatively associated with daily dietary diversity. High daily dietary diversity stabilized the gut microbiome. Bifidobacterial taxa were positively associated, while taxa of the genus Veillonella, that may be the same species, were negatively associated with dietary diversity in both cohorts. This study furthers our understanding of the impact of solid food introduction on gut microbiome development in early life. Dietary diversity seems to have the greatest impact on the gut microbiome as solids are introduced.

Investigating colonization patterns of the infant gut microbiome during the introduction of solid food and weaning from breastmilk: A cohort study protocol.

The first exposures to microbes occur during infancy and it is suggested that this initial colonization influences the adult microbiota composition. Despite the important role that the gut microbiome may have in health outcomes later in life, the factors that influence its development during infancy and early childhood have not been characterized fully. Guidelines about the introduction of solid foods and cessation of breastfeeding, which is thought to have a significant role in the transition to a more adult-like microbiota, are not based on microbiome research. There is even less understanding of approaches used to transition to solid food in the preterm population. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of early life dietary events on gut microbiome community structures and function among infants born at term and pre-term. We plan to prospectively monitor the gut microbiome of infants during two critical timepoints in microbial development: the introduction of solid foods and cessation from breastmilk. A total of 35 participants from three primary observational birth cohorts (two full-term cohorts and one pre-term cohort) will be enrolled in this sub-study. Participants will be asked to collect stool samples and fill out a study diary before, during and after the introduction of solids and again during weaning from breastmilk. We will use frequent fecal sampling analyzed using 16S rRNA gene profiling, metagenomics, metabolomics, and targeted bacterial culturing to identify and characterize the microbial communities, as well as provide insight into the phenotypic characteristics and functional capabilities of the microbes present during these transitional periods of infancy. This study will provide a comprehensive approach to detailing the effects of dietary transition from breastmilk to a more adult-like solid food diet on the microbiome and in doing so will contribute to evidence-based infant nutrition guidance.

Obesity class versus the Edmonton Obesity Staging System for Pediatrics to define health risk in childhood obesity: results from the CANPWR cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Disease severity in paediatric obesity is usually defined using the body-mass index (BMI). Although informative at the population level, its usefulness on an individual level has limitations. The use of a clinical staging system-Edmonton Obesity Staging System for Pediatrics (EOSS-P)-in identifying health risk has been proposed. This study aimed to examine the association between BMI class and EOSS-P stage. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done in children with obesity aged 5-17 years who enrolled in the Canadian Pediatric Weight Management Registry (CANPWR) between May 31, 2013, and Oct 27, 2017, involving ten multidisciplinary paediatric weight management clinics in Canada. We classified participants into WHO BMI classes (class I as 2-3 SD scores, class II as >3 SD scores, and class III as >4 SD scores above the WHO growth standard median), and applied the EOSS-P staging system (stages 0, 1, and 2/3) based on the clinical assessment of coexisting metabolic, mechanical, mental health, and social milieu issues. Clinical information was extracted from medical records and reported using standardised case report forms. Associations of BMI class with EOSS-P stage were examined in children with complete data. FINDINGS: Of the 847 children with complete data, 546 (64%) had severe obesity based on BMI class (ie, class II or III) and 678 (80%) were EOSS-P stage 2/3. Stage 2/3 obesity-related health issues were common; mental health concerns were most common (520 [61%] of 847 children), followed by metabolic (349 [41%] of 847 children), social milieu (179 [21%] of 847 children), and mechanical (86 [10%] of 847 children) health issues. Mental health issues (eg, anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) were equally distributed across BMI classes, metabolic health issues were slightly more common in higher BMI classes, and mechanical (eg, musculoskeletal issues and sleep apnoea) and social milieu (eg, bullying and low household income) issues increased with increasing BMI class. Of children with class I obesity, 206 (76%) of 270 had overall EOSS-P stage 2/3, compared with 195 (85%) of 229 with class III obesity. INTERPRETATION: Physical and mental health issues were highly prevalent among children with obesity irrespective of BMI class. Participants with class III obesity carried the greatest health risk across subcategories of the EOSS-P. As BMI class increased, a concomitant increased disease burden in mechanical and social milieu issues was observed, whereas metabolic and mental health risks were high across BMI classes. FUNDING: Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ontario Ministry of Health, McMaster University, and McMaster Children's Hospital.