Opinions of general practitioners in Nottinghamshire about provision of intrapartum care.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the beliefs of general practitioners concerning intrapartum care.


METHODS
Postal questionnaire survey.


METHODS
All general practitioners with patients in Nottinghamshire Family Health Services Authority in September 1993.


METHODS
General practitioners' current involvement in maternity care, and beliefs on intrapartum care.


RESULTS
Of 694 general practitioners sent questionnaires, 550 (79.2%) replied. 529 of these were on the obstetric list; 437 had not attended a delivery in the past 12 months; 36 had attended two or more; 358 general practitioners did not wish to provide more intrapartum care; 349 did not feel competent to do so. Reasons for not wanting to provide intrapartum care included current workload (453), disruption to personal life (407), and the fear of litigation (377). General practitioners who already booked women for home delivery were more likely to wish to do more deliveries (62/42 v 61/316, chi 2 = 85.3; P < 0.0001) and to have more positive attitudes towards increasing women's choice in maternity care (90/22 v 195/151, chi 2 = 227; P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The involvement of general practitioners in intrapartum care in Nottinghamshire is low, and most general practitioners are unwilling to increase their role. However, general practitioners who already book for home delivery are keen to do more.
Brown
D J
DJ
Department of Public Health Medicine, Nottingham University Medical School.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006700:Home Childbirth; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires