PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Rahim, Mussarat Nazia
AU  - Hedley, Catherine
AU  - Frick, Alex
AU  - Chung, Yooyun
AU  - Penna, Leonie
AU  - Long, Lisa
AU  - Williamson, Catherine
AU  - Heneghan, Michael A
TI  - Development of obstetric-hepatology services: defining optimal care and impact of pregnancy counselling on patient experience
AID  - 10.1136/flgastro-2022-102106
DP  - 2023 Mar 01
TA  - Frontline Gastroenterology
PG  - 124--131
VI  - 14
IP  - 2
4099  - http://fg.bmj.com/content/14/2/124.short
4100  - http://fg.bmj.com/content/14/2/124.full
SO  - Frontline Gastroenterol2023 Mar 01; 14
AB  - Objective Prepregnancy counselling (PPC) is an important aspect of care for women with chronic liver disease (CLD) and liver transplantation (LT), yet its impact has not been well described. This study aims to assess the experience of women attending a joint obstetric-hepatology PPC clinic in a single-centre unit.Design/methods A retrospective questionnaire-based study in a tertiary unit within the UK where patients who attended the PPC clinic between March 2016 and July 2021 were invited to participate by filling in a questionnaire. Descriptive data and free-text content were subsequently analysed.Results 108 women attended the PPC clinic over a 5-year period. Overall, 58/108 (54%) completed the questionnaire. Principal concerns regarding pregnancy included fears around deterioration in health (66%), maternal death (24%), pregnancy loss (66%), medication effects (60%) and disease transmission (36%). 17/58 (14%) patients felt the presence of multiple doctors was intimidating, however, perceptions improved by the end of the consultation.Overall, 44/58 (76%) respondents felt the clinic helped them reach a decision about pursuing pregnancy. Almost all respondents would recommend the clinic to others. There were no major differences in pregnancy outcomes between those that received PPC and those that did not.Conclusion The PPC clinic facilitates a personalised approach to care and is well received by patients with CLD/LT. It is difficult to elucidate whether attendance alone impacts on pregnancy outcomes; registry data may be better placed at addressing this important question.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as online supplemental information. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, MAH, upon reasonable request.