Problem being addressed: Implementing the recommended clinical practice guidelines for prenatal care can be difficult for busy practitioners because the guidelines are numerous and continually being revised.
Objective of program: To develop a checklist outlining the current recommended activities for prenatal care to assist practitioners in providing evidence-based interventions to pregnant women.
Main components of program: We reviewed guidelines for prenatal care from the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination (CTFPHE) and from the report of the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). We searched MEDLINE for interventions commonly performed in pregnancy, but not reviewed by either task force. Interventions graded A or B are listed in bold type on the checklist. Interventions graded C by either task force or recommended by organizations not necessarily using the same rigorous criteria are listed in plain type. Recommended interventions are displayed along a time line under three headings: clinical maneuvers, investigations, and issues for discussion. Pilot testing by 12 practising physicians and 12 family practice residents showed that most respondents thought the checklist very useful.
Conclusions: Providing a one-page checklist summarizing recommended clinical maneuvers, investigations, and topics for discussion should help physicians with implementing the many clinical practice guidelines for prenatal care.