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Interspecialty differences in the obstetric care of low-risk women.

Interspecialty differences in the obstetric care of low-risk women. Interspecialty differences in the obstetric care of low-risk women. R A Rosenblatt , S A Dobie , L G Hart , R Schneeweiss , D Gould , T R Raine , T J Benedetti , M J Pirani and E B Perrin Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195-4795, USA. OBJECTIVES: This study examined differences among obstetricians, family physicians, and certified nurse-midwives in the patterns of obstetric care provided to low-risk patients. METHODS: For a random sample of Washington State obstetrician-gynecologists, family physicians, and certified nurse-midwives, records of a random sample of their low-risk patients beginning care between September 1, 1988, and August 31, 1989, were abstracted. RESULTS: Certified nurse-midwives were less likely to use continuous electronic fetal monitoring and had lower rates of labor induction or augmentation than physicians. Certified nurse-midwives also were less likely than physicians to use epidural anesthesia. The cesarean section rate for patients of certified nurse-midwives was 8.8% vs 13.6% for obstetricians and 15.1% for family physicians. Certified nurse-midwives used 12.2% fewer resources. There was little difference between the practice patterns of obstetricians and family physicians. CONCLUSIONS: The low-risk patients of certified nurse-midwives in Washington State received fewer obstetrical interventions than similar patients cared for by obstetrician-gynecologists or family physicians. These differences are associated with lower cesarean section rates and less resource use. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Public Health American Public Health Association

Interspecialty differences in the obstetric care of low-risk women.

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References (47)

Publisher
American Public Health Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 by the American Public Health Association
ISSN
0090-0036
eISSN
1541-0048
DOI
10.2105/AJPH.87.3.344
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Interspecialty differences in the obstetric care of low-risk women. R A Rosenblatt , S A Dobie , L G Hart , R Schneeweiss , D Gould , T R Raine , T J Benedetti , M J Pirani and E B Perrin Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195-4795, USA. OBJECTIVES: This study examined differences among obstetricians, family physicians, and certified nurse-midwives in the patterns of obstetric care provided to low-risk patients. METHODS: For a random sample of Washington State obstetrician-gynecologists, family physicians, and certified nurse-midwives, records of a random sample of their low-risk patients beginning care between September 1, 1988, and August 31, 1989, were abstracted. RESULTS: Certified nurse-midwives were less likely to use continuous electronic fetal monitoring and had lower rates of labor induction or augmentation than physicians. Certified nurse-midwives also were less likely than physicians to use epidural anesthesia. The cesarean section rate for patients of certified nurse-midwives was 8.8% vs 13.6% for obstetricians and 15.1% for family physicians. Certified nurse-midwives used 12.2% fewer resources. There was little difference between the practice patterns of obstetricians and family physicians. CONCLUSIONS: The low-risk patients of certified nurse-midwives in Washington State received fewer obstetrical interventions than similar patients cared for by obstetrician-gynecologists or family physicians. These differences are associated with lower cesarean section rates and less resource use.

Journal

American Journal of Public HealthAmerican Public Health Association

Published: Mar 1, 1997

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