title: A randomised comparison of patient satisfaction with vaginal and sublingual misoprostol for induction of labour at term.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare patient satisfaction with two routes of misoprostol for term labour induction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomised trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 170 women admitted at > or = 37 weeks of gestation for induction of labour.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were randomised to receive 50 micrograms of either sublingual or vaginal misoprostol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient satisfaction with the route of administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite a similar proportion reporting the labour induction as more painful than expected in both groups, a significantly lower proportion mentioned that the pelvic examinations were very painful in the sublingual group (19.7 versus 36.1%, relative risk [RR] 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.9). Request for analgesia was similar in both groups. More women in the sublingual group thought that the labour experience was better than expected (RR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.3), had a positive attitude towards induction in subsequent pregnancies (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3) and preferred the same route in subsequent pregnancies (RR 3.1, 95% CI 2.2-4.5). Mean number of misoprostol doses, oxytocin augmentation, tachysystole and hyperstimulation, induction to vaginal delivery interval, vaginal delivery after a single dose, vaginal birth within 12 and 24 hours, and caesarean delivery rates were similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sublingual misoprostol (50 micrograms) is associated with a significantly higher patient satisfaction rate compared with a similar dose of vaginal misoprostol. Sublingual administration offers additional choice to women, in particular those wishing to avoid vaginal administration.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: A H
authors: AH
authors: Nassar
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Awwad
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Khalil
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Abu-Musa
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Mehio
authors: I M
authors: IM
authors: Usta
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D016595:Misoprostol; D010120:Oxytocics; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D016595:Misoprostol