Healthcare Providers' Perspectives on Information, Care, and Support for Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Insights from a Qualitative Study.

PROBLEM Pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) report unmet care needs and high levels of psychological distress, which can hamper GDM self-care and contribute to adverse maternal and child outcomes.

Background

GDM is a common pregnancy-related condition worldwide. In Denmark, multidisciplinary care at specialized centers support women in managing health behaviors and, when needed, initiating insulin treatment to maintain normoglycemia. While women's experiences of GDM have been linked with healthcare professionals (HCPs) and healthcare system factors, there is limited knowledge of HCPs perspectives on current GDM care.

Aim

To explore HCPs experiences and the meanings they attribute to providing GDM care, education, and support, including their perception of the extent to which the needs of women and their families are addressed.

Methods

A qualitative, explorative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 10 HCPs from obstetrics and diabetes outpatient clinics in Southern Denmark. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings

Four main themes emerged: Benefits and disadvantages of a fixed GDM care system; The impact of GDM on risk information, motivation, and partner support; Challenges in navigating cultural, language, and health literacy barriers; and Psychological and social aspects of GDM, including coping with shock and stigma.

Conclusion

The findings highlight strengths and limitations of current GDM care. HCPs value the universal multidisciplinary care system for ensuring high-quality care and reducing obstetric complications. However, limited flexibility to address individual needs remain, particularly for vulnerable groups. These findings indicate a need for feasible, patient-centered interventions within a universal healthcare setting.