Clinical Audit: Paediatric Medical Team Attendance at Deliveries in an Outer Metropolitan Hospital in Western Australia

Authors

  • Gelaye Tadesse Nadew Oceania University of Medicine, Apia, Samoa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2016.161

Keywords:

Fetal Distress, Cesarean Section, Pediatrics, Clinical Audit

Abstract

Background: The attendance of paediatric medical teams at deliveries has become accepted as an integral part of birth management under current multidisciplinary team arrangements. Under current guidelines, specific clinical indicators have been developed to determine whether paediatric teams need to attend deliveries. High rates of attendance indicate that paediatric medical team resources are being extended beyond the criteria at the expense of essential services being provided elsewhere.

Methods: A retrospective clinical audit was used to evaluate the frequency of paediatric team attendance and related clinical indicators. Deliveries were recorded and audited for a randomly selected calendar month. Paediatric team attendance was evaluated against foetal distresses, types of delivery, gestational age and birth weight.

Results: A total of 112 deliveries were recorded for the selected calendar month and paediatric medical teams attended 74.1% (n=80) of the deliveries. Participants were comprised of 50.9% (n=57) male and 49.1% (n=55) female babies. Of these deliveries, 66.7% (n=72) were term, 30.6% (n=33) post-term and 2.8% (n=3) pre-term. A total of 69.4% (n=75) of deliveries were spontaneous vaginal deliveries (SVD), while 22.2% (n=24) were caesarean sections and 8.3% (n=9) were instrumental deliveries. Foetal distress was experienced by 16.2% (n=17) of babies.

Conclusion: Paediatric medical team attendance at deliveries was higher than the combined rate of caesarean sections, pre-term babies, instrumental deliveries and reported cases of foetal distress.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biography

Gelaye Tadesse Nadew, Oceania University of Medicine, Apia, Samoa.

Gelaye Tadesse Nadew is a final year medical student of the 4-year MD program at Oceania University of Medicine, Apia, Samoa. He also holds PhD from University of Adelaide.

References

1. King Edward Memorial Hospital. Intrapartum care: clinical guidelines rele¬vant to obstetrics and midwife, women and newborn health service. Perth: Government of Western Australia Department of Health; 2012.
2. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Principles for best practice in clinical audit. Oxon (UK): Radcliffe Medical Press; 2002.
3. Tooke LJ, Joolay Y, Horn AR, Harrison MC. Is the attendance of paediatri¬cians at all elective caesarean sections an effective use of resources? S Afr Med J. 2011 Sep 27;101(10): 749-50.
4. Davies, P, Miles R, Harrington J, Lawrence S. Which births are high risk? Condition of neonates at birth and risk of intervention associated with type of delivery and thickness of meconium in the district general hospital set¬ting. Internet J Pediatr Neonatol. 2002;3(1):1-6.
5. Primhak RA, Herber SM, Whincup G, Milner RD. Which Deliveries require paediatricians in attendance? Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1984 Jul 7;289(6436):16-8.
6. Tudjegbe SO, Imaremgiaye CO, Sadoh WE. Determinants of paediatrician’s presence at Caesarean section. West Afr J Med. 2012 Jan-Mar;31(1):24-7.
7. Iyengar SD, Iyengar K, Martines JC, Dashora K, Deora KK. Childbirth practi¬ces in rural Rajasthan, India: implications for neonatal health and survival. J

Published

2016-12-26

How to Cite

Nadew, G. T. (2016). Clinical Audit: Paediatric Medical Team Attendance at Deliveries in an Outer Metropolitan Hospital in Western Australia. International Journal of Medical Students, 4(3), 104–107. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2016.161