Information for Healthcare Providers

This site has information about folic acid for healthcare providers, including free educational materials to give to patients.

• Data and Statistics
• Recommendations
• Research
• Articles
• Free Materials
• Links to Other Websites

 

Get Involved

Health care providers are important motivators of health behavior change according to our research.  You have the potential to influence women of childbearing age to consume folic acid daily to reduce their risk for NTD-affected pregnancies.  Not only can you encourage daily folic acid consumption in your face-to-face encounters, but you can influence the community at large.  The following are a few ideas for spreading the word about the importance of childbearing age women consuming folic acid daily: 

• Ask editors of medical newsletters, journals, or bulletins to print articles about the importance of folic acid.
  
  
• Gather a group of health care professionals in the community to be featured on local television and radio shows.
  
  
• Convince other health care providers to present the folic acid message to medical staff while on grand rounds.
  
  
• Use educational "prescription pads," and give a prescription for folic acid to every woman of childbearing age as a reminder.   Encourage your colleagues to do the same.
  
  
• Display posters, brochures, flyers, and articles about folic acid in your office and building.
  
  
• Provide a message about folic acid on your phone "hold line."
  
  
• Wear a folic acid button that reinforces the message.
  
  
• Encourage your staff to ask about multivitamins and/or folic acid intake when they take a history.