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The impact of subspecialties on obstetrics and gynecology.

The role of subspecialties in obstetrics and gynecology was evaluated by a mail questionnaire to department chairpersons, members of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, nonuniversity directors of obstetrics and gynecology residency programs, and others. Results from the questionnaire were evaluated by conventional statistical methods. The issues identified included subspecialties and the further development of our specialty in role modeling, enhanced education for both residents and students, and the recruitment of a higher-quality resident for our specialty. Additional issues included: Were subspecialties a mistake, and have they fragmented our specialty? Some of the results include the following: (1) More than 90% of respondents agree that subspecialties have helped in the development of obstetrics and gynecology. (2) The subspecialties have enhanced our image in medical schools (88%) and in the community hospitals (77%). (3) The education of medical students (73%) and of residents (86%) has been enhanced by the development of subspecialties. (4) As predicted, the subspecialties have fragmented our specialty (69%), but patient care has not suffered. (5) Disagreement is noted between chairpersons and other respondents that a higher-quality resident is going into subspecialties, but all agreed that the improved quality of residents was due to the development of subspecialties. (6) Only 10% of respondents wished subspecialties had never been developed as contrasted to 82% of all respondents who felt they were commendable. (7) If another subspecialty area is to be identified, more respondents prefer reproductive urology than the next two areas combined.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Analysis of 500 obstetric and gynecologic malpractice claims: causes and prevention.

Five hundred obstetric and gynecologic malpractice litigation claims were analyzed to determine the incidence of claims that could not be defended because of breach of standards of care, problems with documentation, or both. Of the 500 claims, 294 were obstetric and 206 were gynecologic. Of the obstetric claims, 79 (27%) were indefensible because of breaches of standards of care (71%), problems with documentation (5%), or both (24%). Of the 206 gynecologic claims, 45 (22%) were indefensible because of breaches of standards of care (62%), problems with documentation (24%), or both (13%). The incidence of indefensible obstetric and gynecologic claims was 25%. Indefensible claims were analyzed to determine the common medical and surgical problems that instigated the malpractice suits. Recommendations are made that should reduce the incidence of indefensible malpractice suits.

Documentation↗

Resident attrition in obstetrics and gynecology.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine the rate of attrition from obstetrics and gynecology residency programs. STUDY DESIGN: The Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology sent questionnaires to all 295 obstetrics and gynecology residency program directors in the United States and Canada. These programs represent 4306 postgraduate-year 1 through 4 (or 5) resident positions each year. The program directors were asked the number of residents who left voluntarily or were dismissed in a 2-year period and the reasons they left. RESULTS: In a 2-year period 299 residents left or were dismissed (6.94% over 2 years, or 3.47% per year). Only 88 (1% per year) left specifically because they decided they preferred a different discipline. CONCLUSION: The rate of attrition from obstetrics and gynecology residency programs is not excessively high.

Gynecology↗

Problems of obstetric care in Nigeria.

The problems of obstetric care in Nigeria are multifactorial, enormous but represent inevitable evolutionary stages through which every community in the world must pass. In a population of around 90 million, there is one doctor for every 11,000 people and only 35% of the population is at present covered by any form of modern health care services. There are fewer than 500 doctors with specialist obstetric qualifications and many of them are concentrated in the large cities. A disquietingly small number (17%) of our women are delivered by personnel with modern obstetric knowledge; 83% are delivered by traditional birth attendants. The maternal mortality rate is around 8/1000, and the perinatal mortality is about 60/1000. Currently less than 20% of the population is educated. Only 3% of the national budget is devoted to health. A proper communication system so vital to the establishment of liaison between doctors and the community of patients is virtually non-existent. These problems are compounded by hostile environmental factors. A mixture of tribal, superstitious and religious practices permit marriages as early as 10 years of age and prevent women in labor from seeking medical attention in a timely fashion. Fortunately programmes for improved obstetric care are being expanded. Thus the present difficulty of working in an unfavorable and challenging situation may well be worthwhile.

Communication↗

Organization of obstetric services in USSR.

The principles on which the organization of Obstetric Services in the USSR is based are presented. The main types and functions of curative and preventive establishments which are related to the system of maternity and child protection and deliver obstetric care in the country are listed. The organizational structure of obstetric services, system of advanced training of doctors, the administrative machinery which directs the obstetric services, the development of scientific research in this field and feeding of results into practice are discussed.

Delivery of Health Care↗

Underreimbursement of obstetric and gynecologic invasive services by the resource-based relative value scale.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the relative value of work and reimbursement by the resource-based relative value scale (RBRVS) and the charge-based McGraw-Hill relative value scale for invasive services performed for women only (obstetric-gynecologic), for men only (urology), and in a gender-neutral specialty (general surgery). METHODS: Two hundred nineteen obstetric-gynecologic, 125 urology, and 105 general surgery invasive procedures were compared by the mean for each specialty of 1) the ratio of the procedure-specific work component of the RBRVS unit to the total relative value unit, and 2) the ratio of the procedure-specific total RBRVS unit to the McGraw-Hill relative value unit. All procedures were weighted equally. Ratios are reported as percentages. Statistics were compared by analysis of variance with Newman-Keuls test for multiple pairwise comparisons when significant differences were identified. Statistically significant differences were defined as P < .05. RESULTS: The mean percentage of the procedure-specific work component of the RBRVS unit to the total relative value unit and the total RBRVS unit to the McGraw-Hill unit were significantly lower (P < .01 for all comparisons) for obstetric-gynecologic (49.7 and 139.5) than for urology (55.1 and 207.1) or general surgery services (53.2 and 181.0). There were no significant differences between urology and general surgery services among the procedures studied. CONCLUSION: The data support a lower relative value of work and reimbursement for services performed for women only. This may be the result of 1) high initial estimates of work for urology and general surgery services, 2) low initial estimates of work for obstetric-gynecologic services, or 3) a carry-over of reimbursement bias from the charge-based environment to the RBRVS by the methods used in its development.

Female↗

Primary care obstetrics and perinatal health in The Netherlands.

The Netherlands is the only industrialized country in which a large percentage of obstetric care takes place at home. Almost 31% of all deliveries are home confinements under supervision of a midwife or a general practitioner, and 84% of all postnatal care is given at home by maternity care assistants. To gain a better understanding of this unique situation, the structure of Dutch obstetric care is examined with special attention to the four pillars on which the system rests: the special protected position of the midwife, a generally accepted screening system for high-risk pregnancies, a well-organized maternity home care system, and the sociocultural environment in The Netherlands in which pregnancy and childbirth are considered normal physiological processes. Description of the obstetric system shows a degree of competition between the obstetricians, midwives, and general practitioners, in which the general practitioner has lost a considerable part of the "obstetric market."

Family Practice↗

Obstetrical complications in patients with bipolar disorder and their siblings.

Although indirect evidence suggests that obstetric complications are risk factors for bipolar disorder, few studies have directly addressed this question. Probands with bipolar disorder and their adult siblings were diagnosed according to DSM-III-R criteria by clinicians who had no knowledge of the subjects' obstetrical histories. Hospital records on gestations and births of 16 probands and 20 of their siblings without major mood disorders were scored for obstetric complications without knowledge of diagnosis. The assessment of obstetrical history was based on rating scales that have proved reliable and that reflect the number and severity of complications. Overall complication scores were significantly more severe in probands than siblings. Differences were most marked for perinatal complications.

Adult↗

Headache prevention following accidental dural puncture in obstetric patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a prophylactic saline patch and a prophylactic blood patch in prevention of headache following accidental dural puncture in obstetric patients. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, single-blind study on dural puncture headache occurrence and cessation. SETTING: Inpatient obstetric unit at a metropolitan medical center. PATIENTS: Seventy-four inpatients who underwent vaginal delivery or cesarean section following accidental dural puncture during administration of epidural anesthesia for labor and delivery. INTERVENTIONS: Group 1 (n = 24), the control group, received fluids and analgesics. Group 2 (n = 30) received prophylactic epidural saline (40 to 60 ml) through the epidural catheter following completion of the obstetric procedure. Group 3 (n = 20) received autologous blood (15 ml) via epidural catheter following completion of the obstetric procedure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In Group 1, 21 of 24 patients (87.5%) developed headaches, with conservative management. In Group 2, 20 of 30 patients (66.7%) developed headaches, and in Group 3, 1 of 20 patients (5%) developed a headache. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the administration of a prophylactic epidural blood patch is highly effective in the prevention of headaches following dural puncture, with headache frequency reduced from 87.5% to 5%.

Analgesics↗

An evaluation of trends in obstetrics and gynecology clerkships in the United States and Canada.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to provide an updated profile of clerkship directors and third-year clerkships for Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at US and Canadian medical schools. STUDY DESIGN: All 142 accredited medical schools in the US and Canada were contacted to identify the individual(s) responsible for third-year medical education in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Additional clerkship sites (n=10) were identified using the Association of Professors in Gynecology and Obstetrics' (APGO) list of current members self-identified as clerkship directors. Written surveys were mailed to the individuals identified above. The survey included questions about demographic and academic profiles, 11 attitude statements, as well as potential interest in a national organization of clerkship directors under APGO and interest in the creation of web-based resources specifically for clerkship directors. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-three (81%) responses were received. Demographic and academic characteristics of clerkship directors were similar to those published 13 (1) and 6 (2) years ago, except that the proportion of female clerkship directors has steadily increased (20% in 1989 [1], 25% in 1994 [2], and 44% in 2000, P <.0001). Thirty-five percent of departments have a specialized division of medical education, and 21% of respondents stated that their affiliated medical school had a formal multidisciplinary women's health care curriculum. Eighty-nine percent of respondents felt that their job as clerkship director was personally fulfilling. Eighty- nine percent supported a national organization of clerkship directors under APGO and the majority supported other activities specific for clerkship directors, including web-based resources. CONCLUSION: The profiles of obstetrics and gynecology clerkships and clerkship directors in the US and Canada have remained relatively stable over the last 13 years. However, the proportion of female clerkship directors continues to increase. Interest in more organized activities specifically for clerkship directors and web-based resources is high.

Canada↗

The obstetrics and gynecology clerkship: building a better model from past experience.

OBJECTIVE: The study was undertaken to identify factors contributing to the poor student perception of the obstetrics and gynecology clerkship. STUDY DESIGN: Third-year medical students at the University of Michigan complete an annual questionnaire about the overall quality of their clinical experiences. In addition, at the end of each rotation, the students complete an evaluation form assessing various aspects of their learning experience. We reviewed data collected from 2000 to 2002. We calculated effect sizes using mean scores and SDs to compare individual aspects of the learning environment across the clerkships. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of the third-year medical students at the University of Michigan rated the strength of their obstetrics and gynecology experience as very or exceptionally strong. Compared with the other 6 clerkships, the rotation had one of the lowest ratings for overall quality. Aspects of the clerkship experience we identified as potentially explaining this overall poor rating include the clarity of the clerkship goals and objectives, clarity of expectations for student performance, accessibility of faculty, experiences in learning history-taking skills, experiences in learning physical examination skills, and student perception that they were treated in a respectful/professional manner. CONCLUSION: Aspects of the clerkship experience identified by this study as potentially explaining the low ratings of the obstetrics and gynecology rotation should be studied in greater detail. Addressing these factors will be critical for improving the overall student perception of the obstetrics and gynecology clerkship.

Adult↗

Evolution of Spanish scientific production in international obstetrics and gynecology journals during the period 1986-2002.

OBJECTIVE: The present bibliometric study analyzes Spanish scientific work published in the field of obstetrics and gynecology in the most important journals during the period 1986-2002. STUDY DESIGN: The material studied (779 original documents) was selected in accordance with the science citation index (SCI) of 2001, obstetrics and gynecology section, using the EMBASE: Obstetrics and Gynecology database. We applied the customary rules of bibliometrics: Price's Law of increase in scientific literature, Bradford's Law of scattering of scientific literature and Lotka's Law of author productivity. Furthermore, we analyzed participation index (PaI), the collaboration index and the superior (%SUP). RESULTS: The material studied is closer to an exponential adjustment (r = 0.958) than to a linear adjustment (r = 0.856). The journal with the largest number of originals is Human Reproduction (Bradford's first area), with 217 articles and that with the highest PaI is Menopause (4.07). The total number of authors is 1829, who are responsible for 3938 authorships (2.79% of the authors have a productivity index (PI) > or = 1 and 70.09% have a PI = 0). The majority of the studies were carried out in hospitals (47.62%) and universities (23.36%). CONCLUSION: Spanish productivity in the field of obstetrics and gynecology increased considerably in the period 1986-2002.

Bibliometrics↗

Meconium-stained amniotic fluid--perinatal outcome and obstetrical management in a low-risk suburban population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether amniotic fluid (MSAF) affects obstetrical interventions and immediate perinatal outcome in a low-risk suburban population. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study examined 11,226 deliveries at Tübingen University Hospital (1998-2003). Thousand one hundred and twenty-three women (10%) had MSAF during labor. A control group of matched pairs was created, assigning to each patient the next woman that gave birth without MSAF. Exclusion criteria were: gestational age less than 37+0 weeks, primary Cesarean (C-)section, multiple gestation, severe maternal disease, preeclampsia and fetal malformations. RESULTS: Only small differences were noted between the meconium and non-meconium groups with regard to arterial pH and Apgar scores: mean arterial-pH was 7.26 (+/-0.7) for both. Five minutes Apgar scores <6 occurred in 0.9% versus 0.4%. Obstetrical interventions were more common in the meconium group: C-section rates were 17.4% versus 9.6%, vaginal operative delivery rates 13.9% versus 6.2% and scalp pH rates 9.5% versus 3.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In a low-risk suburban population the effect of MSAF on the newborn during the immediate postpartum period was small. However, obstetrical management was significantly effected by the presence of MSAF, possibly reflecting a combination of more difficult labor and a lower threshold for obstetric intervention.

Adult↗

Obstetrical and gynecological writing and publishing in Europe.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the number and quality of scientific articles published by authors from the European Union (EU) and Germany in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. STUDY DESIGN: Scientific articles published during the years 1980-2003 covered by the Journal Citation Report (JCR) were considered, with a focus on the impact factor (IF), authors' origin, journal country and publishing language. RESULTS: In 2003, there are 53 journals listed by the JCR for the field category 'obstetrics and gynecology', with altogether 3201 publications listed in the Science Citation Index (SCI). From the year 1980, the total number of publications increased persistently. Looking at the top 20 journals in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, there are 12 journals from the US, 8 from Europe. None of these journals has an IF>10 but 30 journals show an IF>1. Over the last 25 years, a growing importance of the English language as scientific language can be observed. CONCLUSION: These data indicate an important role of European research in the field of obstetrics and gynecology comparable to that of US-American research. The English language is gaining importance as scientific language, displacing other languages and contributing to a loss of impact of non-English journals.

Bibliometrics↗

Compliance with the CONSORT checklist in obstetric anaesthesia randomised controlled trials.

The Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) checklist is an evidence-based approach to help improve the quality of reporting randomised controlled trials. The purpose of this study was to determine how closely randomised controlled trials in obstetric anaesthesia adhere to the CONSORT checklist. We retrieved all randomised controlled trials pertaining to the practice of obstetric anaesthesia and summarised in Obstetric Anesthesia Digest between March 2001 and December 2002 and compared the quality of reporting to the CONSORT checklist. The median number of correctly described CONSORT items was 65% (range 36% to 100%). Information pertaining to randomisation, blinding of the assessors, sample size calculation, reliability of measurements and reporting of the analysis were often omitted. It is difficult to determine the value and quality of many obstetric anaesthesia clinical trials because journal editors do not insist that this important information is made available to readers. Both clinicians and clinical researchers would benefit from uniform reporting of randomised trials in a manner that allows rapid data retrieval and easy assessment for relevance and quality.

Adult↗

Informed consent for labor epidurals: a survey of Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology anesthesiologists from the United States.

BACKGROUND: Ethicists agree that informed consent is a process rather than just simply the signing of a form. It should provide the patient with needed information and understanding to authorize a procedure. Essential elements of informed consent for women requesting labor epidurals include a description of the procedure, the risks and benefits, and alternative treatments for analgesia including the associated risks and benefits. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine practices and opinions of obstetric anesthesiologists regarding informed consent for parturients. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 885 anesthesiologists who were members of the Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology based in United States institutions in 2002. RESULTS: Of the 885 questionnaires sent, 448 (51%) were returned with 47% from academic and 47% from private practice institutions. Forty-six percent worked as part of an obstetric anesthesia team; 51% worked in centers where there were >3000 deliveries/year. Sixty-eight percent suggested that "parturients in active labor are able to give informed consent for labor epidural analgesia." Thirteen percent recommend antenatal anesthesia consults for parturients inquiring about labor epidurals and 41% participated in childbirth classes. Responses did not differ significantly between physicians in academic vs. private practice. More obstetric team practices than non-team practices participated in childbirth education (54% vs. 30%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Despite the painful, stressful circumstances confronted by parturients, many respondents (76% in academic, 64% in private practice) thought that women in active labor are able to give informed consent.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Resident research in obstetrics and gynecology: development of a program with comparison to a national survey of residency programs.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this report is to describe our recently established resident research program and to compare this program with those of other obstetrics and gynecology residency training programs in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: The components of our program are described. Data for comparison from other programs were obtained from questionnaires, phone follow-up and the Directory of Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Programs of the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology. RESULTS: We initiated a residency research program in 1987 with acceptable projects defined, a time for completion of manuscripts established, and a Resident Research Day organized with presentation of articles, critique by a guest speaker, and an awards banquet. Nationally, less than 60% of residency programs have research requirements. Of the 208 programs responding to the written questionnaire 86% of programs associated with a university required research compared with 10% of community-based residency programs. CONCLUSION: While more than a third of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology do not have resident research programs, the trend is for programs to establish research as a required portion of training. An outline of a recently established program is provided.

Data Collection↗

Experience with the pulmonary artery catheter in obstetrics and gynecology.

Although traditionally the exclusive domain of other medical specialties, pulmonary artery catheterization may be of tremendous benefit to a variety of obstetric and gynecologic patients. Our experience with such invasive hemodynamic monitoring in 72 patients in an obstetrics and gynecology service is presented. In 86% of cases, catheter placement and primary management were carried out by residents in obstetrics and gynecology. Although many of the indications for pulmonary artery catheterization encountered are common to other areas of medicine, certain conditions such as severe preeclampsia or rheumatic heart disease in pregnancy involve pathophysiologic conditions unique to our specialty. On the basis of our experience, recommended indications for pulmonary artery catheterization in obstetric and gynecologic patients are presented. Insertion techniques, complications, and clinical outcome are discussed.

Cardiac Catheterization↗