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ESTAGEST: an obstetrical application program in BASIC for the computation of estimated date of confinement
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
|July 1, 1988
Summary
Determining the estimated date of confinement (EDC) is crucial for prenatal care. This study introduces a BASIC program to average multiple clinical examinations, improving EDC accuracy when last menstrual period data is unreliable.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Clinical Informatics
Background:
- Accurate estimated date of confinement (EDC) is vital for managing pregnancy care.
- Reliable last menstrual period (LMP) data for EDC calculation is often unavailable or inconsistent.
- Clinical estimations of gestational age can present discrepancies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a computational tool for averaging multiple clinical examinations to determine EDC.
- To provide clinicians with a method to assess the variability of EDC estimates from clinical data.
Main Methods:
- A BASIC computer program was developed to input up to 20 clinical examinations.
- The program calculates an average EDC based on inputted clinical dates.
- Individual EDC predictions and their dispersion are displayed for each examination.
Main Results:
- The program provides an averaged EDC, mitigating discrepancies from individual clinical estimations.
- Visual indication of dispersion among examinations aids in assessing data reliability.
- Institution-specific data for average intervals to delivery can be adapted.
Conclusions:
- A simple computer program can effectively average multiple clinical examinations for improved EDC determination.
- This tool enhances the accuracy of EDC prediction when LMP data is insufficient.
- The program aids in managing discrepancies in gestational age estimations during pregnancy.