Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Understanding Audit in Obstetrics

  • Original Article
  • Published:
The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Aim of this audit is to analyse indication and proportion of babies delivered by elective caesarean section at less than 39+0 weeks of gestation exposed to antenatal corticosteroids performed in a Premier Hospital, Hywel Dda Health University. The second aim was to learn how an audit can be done and used for improving clinical practice.

Methods

Present study involved all patients who underwent elective caesarean delivery before 39 weeks completed period of gestation in August and September 2014. Data collected from medical record tracking using ICD-9 codes and analysed by clinical audit department.

Exclusion

Patients who underwent elective caesarean section after 39 weeks completed period of gestation.

Discussion

The audit showed 66.6 % of patients were given antenatal corticosteroids. The observation was discussed in consultant meetings, labour forum, and was send as e-mail to every one working in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The goal was 100 %. Reaudit is to be performed in year time to know the effect of change in practice. All successful audits are structured programmes with realistic aims and objectives, leadership and attitude of senior management, nondirective, hands-on approach, support of staff, strategy groups and regular discussions, emphasis on team working and support, environment conducive to conducting audit.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. Caesarean sections. Postnote. 2002;184:1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Menacker F. Trends in cesarean rates for first births and repeat cesarean rates for low-risk women: United States, 1990–2003. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2005;54:1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Liu S, Rusen ID, Joseph KS, et al. Recent trends in caesarean delivery rates and indications for caesarean delivery in Canada. J Obstet Gynecol Can. 2004;26:735–42.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Black C, Kaye JA, Jick H. Cesarean delivery in the United Kingdom: time trends in the general practice research database. Obstet Gynecol. 2005;106:151–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Yeh J, Wactawski-Wende J, Shelton JA, et al. Temporal trends in the rates of trial of labor in low-risk pregnancies and their impact on the rates and success of vaginal birth after cesarean delivery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006;194:144.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Landon MB, Hauth JC, Leveno KJ, et al. Maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:2581–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Smith GC, Pell JP, Cameron AD, et al. Risk of perinatal death associated with labor after previous cesarean delivery in uncomplicated term pregnancies. JAMA. 2002;287:2684–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tita AT, Landon MB, Spong CY, et al. Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD maternal-fetal medicine units network. Timing of elective repeat cesarean delivery at term and neonatal outcomes. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:111–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Yee W, Amin H, Wood S. Elective cesarean delivery, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and neonatal respiratory distress. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;111:823–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hansen AK, Wisborg K, Uldbjerg N, et al. Risk of respiratory morbidity in term infants delivered by elective caesarean section: Cohort study. BMJ. 2008;336:85–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Morrison JJ, Rennie JM, Milton PJ. Neonatal respiratory morbidity and mode of delivery at term: influence of timing of elective caesarean section. Br J Obstet Gynecol. 1995;102:101–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Stutchfield P, Whitaker R. Russell I; Antenatal Steroids for Term Elective Caesarean Section (ASTECS) Research Team. Antenatal betamethasone and incidence of neonatal respiratory distress after elective caesarean section: pragmatic randomised trial. BMJ. 2005;331:662.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Smith R. Audit and research. BMJ. 1992;305:905–6 (see comments).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. NHS, National Institute for Clinical Excellence, Commission for Health Improvement, Royal College of Nursing, University of Leicester. Principles for best practice in clinical audit. Oxford: Radcliffe Medical Press; 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Clinical effectiveness support unit team matters. Br J Cancer. 1994;70:363–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. McKenzie-McHarg K, Ayres S. Data management. In: O’Brien PMS, Broughton Pipkin F, editors. Introduction to research methodology for specialists and trainees. London: RCOG Press; 1999. p. 140–6.

  17. Brocklehurst P, Gates S. Statistics. In: O’Brien PMS, Broughton Pipkin F, editors. Introduction to research methodology for specialists and trainees. London: RCOG Press; 1999. p. 147–60.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sreenarayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Chalakka, P.O. North Kuthiyathodu, Ernakulam, Kerala, 683594, India

    Georgy Joy Eralil

Authors
  1. Georgy Joy Eralil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgy Joy Eralil.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by author.

Additional information

Dr. Georgy Joy Eralil, MBBS, MS, DGO, MRCOG, is the Associate Professor in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Sreenarayana Institute of Medical Sciences.

Appendix

Appendix

figure b

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Eralil, G.J. Understanding Audit in Obstetrics. J Obstet Gynecol India 66 (Suppl 1), 223–228 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-016-0840-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-016-0840-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation