Neonatal encephalopathy and cerebral palsy revisited: the current state of knowledge and the impact of american college of obstetricians and gynecologists task force report.
OBJECTIVE
To re-assess obstetrician-gynecologists' knowledge of neonatal encephalopathy and cerebral palsy after publication of the ACOG/AAP Task Force report.


METHODS
A questionnaire investigating knowledge of neonatal encephalopathy and cerebral palsy was mailed to 1060 members of ACOG, 337 of whom participated in a similar study in 2001.


RESULTS
There was a strong association between familiarity with ACOG documentation and knowledge of neonatal encephalopathy (NE) and cerebral palsy (CP) (p<0.001). As with obstetricians surveyed in 2001, knowledge gaps remain. Performance was better on practices questions than knowledge questions. About one-third (34.2%) of the physicians said their knowledge of neonatal encephalopathy was poor or deficient; the majority (76%) rated their residency training as inadequate to marginal.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate better knowledge of neonatal encephalopathy and cerebral palsy among physicians more familiar with the Task Force report. There is a clear need for emphasis on these topics during training and continuing medical education.
Morgan
Maria A
MA
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC 20024, USA.
Hankins
Gary D V
GD
Zinberg
Stanley
S
Schulkin
Jay
J
D001927:Brain Diseases; D002547:Cerebral Palsy; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004496:Education, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D011364:Professional Practice; D012955:Societies, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States