Katie M Groom1, Sara Paterson-Brown, Nicholas M Fisk. 1. Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, Du Cane Road, W12 0NN, London, UK. k.groom@ic.ac.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess UK obstetricians' preferences about mode of delivery for themselves or their partners and determine whether these changed since 1995. STUDY DESIGN: All 313 registered obstetricians in London and one in five (279) sample of those outside London were sent a structured anonymous postal questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 54%. In a hypothetical uncomplicated first singleton pregnancy with a cephalic presentation at term, 15% chose elective caesarean section (CS) (17% in London versus 13% outside London). The overall rate for London has not changed since 1995 (17 versus 17%), although the difference between women and men was less (31 versus 8% in 1995 and 21 versus 14% in 1999, respectively). The number choosing elective CS increased with estimated foetal weight > 4.0kg (40%) and > 4.5kg (65%) and with breech presentation both in a first pregnancy (69%) and after a previous vaginal delivery (49%). CONCLUSION: The overall attitude of London obstetricians to mode of delivery for themselves or their partners has not changed since 1995 and is similar to those of UK obstetricians elsewhere.
OBJECTIVE: To assess UK obstetricians' preferences about mode of delivery for themselves or their partners and determine whether these changed since 1995. STUDY DESIGN: All 313 registered obstetricians in London and one in five (279) sample of those outside London were sent a structured anonymous postal questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 54%. In a hypothetical uncomplicated first singleton pregnancy with a cephalic presentation at term, 15% chose elective caesarean section (CS) (17% in London versus 13% outside London). The overall rate for London has not changed since 1995 (17 versus 17%), although the difference between women and men was less (31 versus 8% in 1995 and 21 versus 14% in 1999, respectively). The number choosing elective CS increased with estimated foetal weight > 4.0kg (40%) and > 4.5kg (65%) and with breech presentation both in a first pregnancy (69%) and after a previous vaginal delivery (49%). CONCLUSION: The overall attitude of London obstetricians to mode of delivery for themselves or their partners has not changed since 1995 and is similar to those of UK obstetricians elsewhere.
Authors: Jennifer E Lutomski; Michael Murphy; Declan Devane; Sarah Meaney; Richard A Greene Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2014-01-13 Impact factor: 3.007