title: Gestational age and fetal growth assessment among obstetricians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to characterize gestational age assessment and fetal growth evaluation among obstetricians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational, cross-sectional study. We applied a questionnaire to obstetrics specialists and residents, during a national congress on obstetrics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost all 179 respondents correct gestational age in the first trimester by ultrasound, but 63% only if there is a difference of 2-9 days. Ultrasound at 11-13 weeks was considered more accurate than at 8-10 weeks by 81%, with a higher proportion of specialists choosing correctly the last answer (p = 0.05). One-third of the respondents did not correctly point the error associated with the ultrasound estimation of fetal weight (EFW). Of the 88% who use a growth table, only 32% were able to identify it by publication/author. Ninety-eight percent identify fetal growth restriction risk (FGR) with centiles (10th in 76%) and 73% of doctors diagnose FGR without other pathological findings (10th in 49%). 44% finds that a low EFW centile maintenance (4th to 3rd) is more worrisome than the crossing of two quartiles (75th to 24th).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of ultrasound in gestational age assessment and use of EFW use for FGR classification was disparate among participants. EFW and respective centiles may be over relied upon.
authors.affiliation: a Gynecology and Obstetrics Department , Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave , Guimarães , Portugal .|b Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems (CINTESIS), Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro , Porto , Portugal .|c Faculty of Medicine , University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro , Porto , Portugal , and.
authors.forename: Ricardo F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Sousa-Santos
authors.affiliation: b Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems (CINTESIS), Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro , Porto , Portugal .|c Faculty of Medicine , University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro , Porto , Portugal , and.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendes-Castro
authors.affiliation: a Gynecology and Obstetrics Department , Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave , Guimarães , Portugal .
authors.forename: Dânia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: a Gynecology and Obstetrics Department , Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave , Guimarães , Portugal .|d Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar , Braga , Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Miguelote
authors.affiliation: b Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems (CINTESIS), Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro , Porto , Portugal .|c Faculty of Medicine , University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro , Porto , Portugal , and.
authors.forename: Ricardo J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cruz-Correia
authors.affiliation: b Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems (CINTESIS), Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro , Porto , Portugal .|c Faculty of Medicine , University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro , Porto , Portugal , and.
authors.forename: João F M A L
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bernardes
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000379:methods*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
keywords: Birthweight; fetal development; prenatal; ultrasonography