title: The use of ultrasound examinations, intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring and beta-mimetic drugs in France.
abstract: We conducted a survey of French obstetricians to document their attitudes towards routine ultrasound, intrapartum fetal monitoring and beta-mimetics in 1987. A questionnaire was sent to 582 obstetricians or gynaecologists who were members of two French medical associations. The response rate was 85%. Of the respondents 92% prescribed two or three routine ultrasound examinations; only one doctor did not use electronic fetal monitoring and 99% of the respondents prescribed beta-mimetics to prevent preterm delivery. Some obstetricians reported a decrease in their use of ultrasound and more dramatically in the use of beta-mimetics. Side-effects were reported to be the major reason for the change in beta-mimetic use. Obstetricians who read English language journals were more likely to have reduced their use of ultrasound and beta-mimetics than those who read only French language journals.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherches Epidémiologiques sur la Mère et l'Enfant, INSERM, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blondel
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ringa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Breart
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005602:France; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015149:Tocolytic Agents