Clinicians' evaluations of fetal oximetry sensor placement in a multicentre randomised trial (the FOREMOST trial).
BACKGROUND
Fetal pulse oximetry (FPO) may improve the assessment of the fetal well-being in labour. Reports of health-care provider's evaluations of new technology are important in the overall evaluation of that technology.


OBJECTIVE
To determine doctors' and midwives' perceptions of their experience placing FPO sensors.


METHODS
We surveyed clinicians (midwives and doctors) following placement of a FPO sensor during the FOREMOST trial (multicentre randomised trial of fetal pulse oximetry). Clinicians rated ease of sensor placement (poor, fair, good and excellent). Potential influences on ease of sensor placement (staff category, prior experience in Birth Suite, prior experience in placing sensors, epidural analgesia, cervical dilatation and fetal station) were examined by ordinal regression.


RESULTS
There were 281 surveys returned for the 294 sensor placement attempts (response rate 96%). Sensors were placed by midwives (29%), research midwives (48%), registrars (22%) and obstetricians (1%). The majority of clinicians had 1 or more years' Birth Suite experience, had placed six or more sensors previously, and rated ease of sensor placement as good. Advancing fetal station (P < 0.001) and the presence of epidural analgesia prior to sensor placement (P = 0.029) predicted improved ease of sensor placement. Having a clinician placing a sensor for the first time predicted a lower rating for ease of sensor placement (P = 0.001), compared to having placed one or more sensors previously.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians with varying levels of Birth Suite experience successfully placed fetal oxygen saturation sensors, with the majority rating ease of sensor placement as good.
East
Christine E
CE
Perinatal Research Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. ceast@somc.uq.edu.au
Brennecke
Shaun P
SP
Chan
Fung Yee
FY
King
James F
JF
Beller
Elaine M
EM
Colditz
Paul B
PB
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007749:Labor Stage, Third; D008880:Midwifery; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010820:Physicians; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires