Abstract
From 376 randomly selected nulliparous women who delivered at the Grace Hospital in 1986, we selected 133 low-risk women and performed a retrospective chart review to ascertain the episiotomy rate for physicians by sex, years since graduation, and specialty status. There was a statistically significant difference between the rate for specialists (65%) and general practitioners (38%). A non-significant difference was found between male physicians (41%) and female physicians (56%) and between physicians who had graduated within 15 years (42%) and those who graduated more than 15 years ago (52%). Subgroup analysis of the general practitioner data revealed different patterns for male and female physicians according to their graduation cohort.
Keywords: episiotomy, family medicine, obstetrics, physician factors
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Arroll B. Episiotomy in low risk patients. Can Fam Physician. 1984 Oct;30:2137–2140. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Arroll B. Routine episiotomy: a possible answer. Can Fam Physician. 1984 Nov;30:2229–2229. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Formato L. S. Routine prophylactic episiotomy. Is it always necessary. J Nurse Midwifery. 1985 May-Jun;30(3):144–148. doi: 10.1016/0091-2182(85)90279-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Harrison R. F., Brennan M., North P. M., Reed J. V., Wickham E. A. Is routine episiotomy necessary? Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1984 Jun 30;288(6435):1971–1975. doi: 10.1136/bmj.288.6435.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Reid A. J., Carroll J. C., Ruderman J., Murray M. A. Differences in intrapartum obstetric care provided to women at low risk by family physicians and obstetricians. CMAJ. 1989 Mar 15;140(6):625–633. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Reynolds J. L., Yudkin P. L. Changes in the management of labour: 1. Length and management of the second stage. CMAJ. 1987 May 15;136(10):1041–1045. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sleep J., Grant A., Garcia J., Elbourne D., Spencer J., Chalmers I. West Berkshire perineal management trial. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1984 Sep 8;289(6445):587–590. doi: 10.1136/bmj.289.6445.587. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Snooks S. J., Setchell M., Swash M., Henry M. M. Injury to innervation of pelvic floor sphincter musculature in childbirth. Lancet. 1984 Sep 8;2(8402):546–550. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(84)90766-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Thacker S. B., Banta H. D. Benefits and risks of episiotomy: an interpretative review of the English language literature, 1860-1980. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 1983 Jun;38(6):322–338. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]