Clinicians' perceptions of placing a fetal oximetry sensor

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Medical Device Technology
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Fetal oximetry is a method used to monitor fetal well-being during labor.
• Understanding clinician perceptions is crucial for effective implementation of new medical devices.
• Previous assessments of fetal oximetry sensor placement are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate healthcare providers' perceptions regarding the placement of fetal oximetry sensors.
• To assess the ease of application and use of fetal oximetry sensors from the clinician's perspective.
• To gauge clinicians' assessment of patient comfort and pain during fetal oximetry sensor placement.

Main Methods:

• A survey was developed and administered to clinicians involved in labor and delivery.
• The survey collected data on staff category, experience, prior sensor use, and epidural analgesia.
• Survey validity was enhanced through expert review and item-total correlation analysis, including a revised visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain assessment.

Main Results:

• Ease of fetal oximetry sensor placement was rated as good or excellent by 71% of clinicians (n=131).
• Clinicians reported high levels of patient comfort during sensor placement, with 90% rating it as good or excellent.
• The median pain score reported by clinicians using the VAS was 0 (range 0-7.5), indicating minimal perceived pain.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians generally have positive perceptions regarding the placement of fetal oximetry sensors.
• The procedure is perceived as easy to perform and well-tolerated by patients.
• Fetal oximetry sensor placement is rated favorably by clinicians, supporting its utility in clinical practice.