TY - JOUR T1 - Follow-up after gestational diabetes: a qualitative study of perspectives from general practices JF - BJGP Open JO - BJGP Open DO - 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0241 SP - BJGPO.2021.0241 AU - Jane Hyldgaard Nielsen AU - Kirsten Fonager AU - Jette Kolding Kristensen AU - Charlotte Overgaard Y1 - 2022/04/20 UR - http://bjgpopen.org/content/early/2022/04/20/BJGPO.2021.0241.abstract N2 - Background Women whose pregnancies are complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus are approximately eight times more likely to develop type two diabetes. Although regular participation in follow-up screening increases the chance of early detection of diabetes, participation rates are often suboptimal. A better understanding of general practice as a key contextual setting for screening could help inform the development and adoption of, for example, electronic reminder interventions to support women’s participation.Aim To explore the perspectives of general practitioners and relevant staff members engaged in early detection of diabetes after gestational diabetes in order to identify barriers to and facilitators of follow-up screening.Design & setting A qualitative interview study undertaken in general practices in the North Denmark Region.Method Based on a purposive sample strategy, 18 semi-structured interviews of 12 general practitioners and six staff members, who were either nurses or midwives, were analysed using a reflexive thematic analytical approach.Results Three main themes were formulated: (1) Challenges of addressing women’s risk; (2) Prioritisation of early detection of diabetes; (3) System influence on clinical procedures.Conclusion Follow-up screening was facilitated by knowledge of guidelines. We found professional collaboration and adaptation support to lead to successful implementation of guidelines in general practice. Supporting GPs and their staff’s reflection and discussion of ways to engage in communication and decision-making processes with women is however important, hence it was found to create an important barrier to follow-up screening. Overall, our findings can help inform the future development of interventions to increase uptake. ER -