Abstract Background/Aims Pregnancy planning is a key component in determining the management of women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD) who are of reproductive age. The need for improved care for women with AIRD before, during, and after pregnancy is described extensively in the literature and by national and international guidelines. However, current studies highlight the challenges faced by this cohort, including access to information regarding family planning, preconception care, and pregnancy. In this study, we aim to evaluate the healthcare providers’ (HCP) current practices and views on family planning, contraception, and prescribing in patients of reproductive age with AIRD for the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (NI). Methods From September to October 2025, the link to an online survey was emailed out nationally to all rheumatology consultants, rheumatology registrars, clinical nurse specialists (CNS) and advanced nurse practitioners (ANP) practising in the rheumatology field in the ROI and NI via the Irish Society for Rheumatology (ISR) registry. A short description of the voluntary, anonymous survey was provided. The questionnaires contained a total of 22 questions, divided into 4 primary areas of enquiry: background, outpatient discussion on family planning, views on contraception prescribing, and knowledge on contraception and teratogenicity. Results A total of 52 surveys were completed by 22 (42%) consultants, 29 (56%) registrars, and 10 (19%) CNS/ANP. Almost all HCPs surveyed review patients with AIRD who are pregnant (98%, n = 51), of which the median number reviewed per year was 5. 75%(n = 39) HCPs provide preconception counselling. 48% (n = 25) discuss family planning routinely in the clinic, with a further 44% (n = 23) discussing upon initiation of rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD) medication/potentially teratogenic RMD medication. 83%(n = 43) of HCPs discuss contraception, of which 31% (n = 16) make recommendations on the type; however, no HCP prescribes contraception. Less than half (40%, n = 21) of HCPs described themselves as ‘comfortable’ discussing contraception in the rheumatology clinic, 44% (n = 23) felt they had enough information to recommend contraception, with 71% (37) referring to primary care for contraception prescribing. 79% (n = 41) of HCPs would like to have more education on recommending and prescribing contraception. When asked to identify the potentially teratogenic RMD medications from a list of RMD medications, 38% (n = 20) of HCP correctly identified the three. When asked to list three commonly recommended contraceptives from the most to least effective, 75%(n = 39) correctly identified them. Conclusion The majority of rheumatology HCPs in Ireland review patients with AIRD who are pregnant, and most discuss family planning and provide preconception counselling in the clinic setting. However, less than half feel comfortable discussing contraception and view prescribing contraception as part of primary care. Some HCPs struggled to correctly identify the potentially teratogenic RMD medications and the effectiveness of commonly recommended contraceptives. This national survey highlights that we are proactively discussing preconception care and family planning; however, further education on contraception and teratogenicity would be of benefit. Disclosure N. Moollan: None. C. O’Loughlin: None. N. Jordan: None. R. Conway: None.
Moollan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.