title: A comparison between Swedish midwives' and obstetricians' & gynecologists' opinions on cesarean section.
abstract: To compare Swedish obstetricians/gynecologists and midwives' attitudes and opinions on different aspects of cesarean section (CS). In total 330 midwives from the south east of Sweden and 1280 Swedish obstetricians/gynecologists were asked to answer a study-specific questionnaire anonymously about their opinions on different issues concerning CS. The majority of obstetricians/gynecologists and midwives had more than 10 years of experience in their professions (75.2% vs. 73.6%). The midwives thought that a reasonable CS rate would be 11.5% whereas the corresponding figures for the obstetricians/gynecologists was 13.8% (P < 0.001). There are differences in opinions and attitudes concerning both CS rates and other aspects in connection with CS. There are evident differences in attitudes towards CS and mode of delivery between midwives and obstetricians/gynecologists. These need to be explored and discussed in relation to state-of-the-art knowledge and should become a part of the curriculum for both groups of professionals both in training as well as on a regular clinical basis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Josefsson
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gunnervik
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sydsjö
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sydsjö
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005104:Expert Testimony; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden