[Application of a technique to establish criteria for uterine length measurement].
BACKGROUND
The uterine length measurement is a routine practice in the prenatal care of pregnant women. It has been attributed a sensibility of 86% to detect fetal grown restriction. The technique is easy to perform and reproducible between observers, although we have found variation between intra- and inter-observers measurements.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the useful of a maneuver to improve the reliability of the uterine length measurement in a group of obstetrics residents.


METHODS
The measurement was performed on pregnant women. The results were analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficient to evaluate the concordance between observers based in a variance analysis model (ANOVA) of repeated measurements.


RESULTS
There were not differences between groups about demographic variables. All residents improve the reliability in their measurements. The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.77 (confidence interval 0.63-0.88) before the maneuver, and after this one the intra-class correlation coefficient improved to 0.96 (confidence interval 0.92-0.98).


CONCLUSIONS
The uterine measurement following detailed indications improve the interobserver concordance. We think it is advisable to evaluate the use of this maneuver in a routine way in our institute and in other places that bring prenatal care.
Acevedo Gallegos
Sandra
S
Instituto Nacional de Perinatología. draacevedo_sandra@yahoo.com.mx
Guzmán Huerta
Mario Estanislao
ME
Velázquez Torres
Berenice
B
Gallardo Gaona
Juan Manuel
JM
Sarmiento Sánchez
Lucía Angélica
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D003944:Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*