Doctors have significant gaps in their knowledge about current research in thyroid disease during and after pregnancy, according to a new study by Marie Rinaldi, a third-year student at NJMS and Alex Stagnaro-Green, MD, MHPE, Associate Dean for Curriculum and Faculty Development and Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health.

"Our study highlights the need for an educational initiative devoted to disseminating the recent research findings on thyroid abnormalities in pregnant women," said Stagnaro-Green. He and Rinaldi, who was lead author of the study, recently presented their findings at the 77th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association in Phoenix, AZ.

Researchers created a 16-item survey to find out how much doctors knew about four different thyroid disorders during pregnancy. Four hundred and three physicians, evenly divided between four medical specialties - obstetricians/gynecologists, internists, family practitioners, and endocrinologists - completed the survey.

Overall, doctors answered only two-thirds of the questions correctly. Endocrinologists scored highest, followed by obstetricians/gynecologists. Internists and family practitioners had the lowest scores. The survey shows that the degree of knowledge about thyroid disease and pregnancy is related to a doctor's medical specialty, current medical position, years of training, treatment of pregnant women and confidence regarding their knowledge of thyroid disease and pregnancy.

"More physician training on thyroid disease during pregnancy would ultimately result in increased detection of the disease and better patient care," commented Rinaldi.

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