Variability of symphysis-fundus height measurements: an experimental study among general practitioners

With the aim of evaluating the impact of supervised training during a postgraduate course in obstetrics and gynaecology, the variability of symphysis-fundus (SF) height measurements was studied by a group of general practitioners (GPs), all of whom provided primary antenatal care. A nested analysis of variance was used. The SF height measurements of the group differed significantly from those of a senior obstetrician and the course training had no impact on the variability. Similar studies should evaluate measurement variability in the light of pregnancy outcome.