A Questionnaire Assessing Utilization of Delayed Cord Clamping

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Neonatal Medicine
• Healthcare Disparities

Background:

• Delayed cord clamping (DCC) offers benefits to newborns.
• Awareness and implementation of DCC guidelines vary among healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the practice and awareness of DCC benefits among obstetric and neonatal physicians.
• To identify factors associated with DCC implementation, including provider characteristics and patient demographics.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online questionnaire study was conducted.
• 975 physicians (obstetric and neonatal) completed the survey.
• Data were analyzed to correlate provider characteristics and patient demographics with DCC practice.

Main Results:

• High awareness of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)/American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations was observed (94% and 86%).
• A significant portion of physicians practiced or witnessed DCC >50% of the time (86% and 78%).
• Physicians with over 10 years of experience were less likely to recognize DCC benefits, and practice varied significantly based on patient race.

Conclusions:

• There is a need to enhance DCC practice and provider education, particularly regarding its benefits.
• Institutional policies and awareness of ACOG/AAP guidelines are crucial for improving DCC implementation.
• Racial disparities in DCC practice necessitate targeted interventions and hospital leadership engagement for guideline adherence.