Women's satisfaction with intrapartum fetal surveillance: A mixed-method study within the STan Australian randomised controlled trial (START)

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dc.contributor.authorBenton, M.
dc.contributor.authorSalter, A.
dc.contributor.authorWilkinson, C.
dc.contributor.authorSimpson, B.
dc.contributor.authorTurnbull, D.
dc.date.issued2025
dc.descriptionAvailable online 27 September 2024
dc.description.abstractBackground: Childbirth satisfaction can impact short and long-term health outcomes. In an Australian-first randomised controlled trial (RCT) (ACTRN1261800006268), two techniques for intrapartum fetal surveillance were compared; ST analysis (STan) as an adjunct to cardiotocography (CTG) compared to CTG alone. The aim was to determine if CTG+STan can reduce emergency caesarean section rates whilst maintaining or improving neonatal outcomes. This study compared women’s experiences of and satisfaction with the two techniques of intrapartum fetal surveillance. Methods: N = 970 women were recruitment to the RCT between 2018 and 2021. We invited a consecutive sub-set of women (approximately the first half of the trial participants, n = 527) to complete a questionnaire at eight weeks postnatal. The analysis principle was intention to treat. Results: Of the n = 527 invited women, n = 207 completed the questionnaire (n = 113/265, CTG+STan; n = 94/ 265, CTG alone). Birth satisfaction was similar in both arms. Women in the CTG+STan arm reported higher satisfaction with staff competency in monitoring and more likely to disagree that they would prefer different monitoring methods in future labours. Qualitative findings highlighted, the main perceived difference between techniques was the use of the fetal scalp electrode (FSE), always used with CTG+STan and when clinically necessary utilised with CTG. Women viewed the FSE positively, as it allowed for greater mobility. Conclusions: CTG+STan, provides comparable outcomes in terms of satisfaction with labour experience and monitoring. Findings should inform consumer-based information on electronic fetal surveillance, addressing common misconceptions among women and care providers about the potential use of a FSE. Trial registration: ANZCTR, ACTRN1261800006268. Registered on 19 January 2018.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityMadeleine Benton, Amy Salter, Chris Wilkinson, Bronni Simpson, Deborah Turnbull
dc.identifier.citationMidwifery, 2025; 140:104193-1-104193-8
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.midw.2024.104193
dc.identifier.issn0266-6138
dc.identifier.issn1532-3099
dc.identifier.orcidBenton, M. [0000-0002-0779-6334]
dc.identifier.orcidSalter, A. [0000-0002-2881-0684]
dc.identifier.orcidWilkinson, C. [0000-0003-1438-0422]
dc.identifier.orcidTurnbull, D. [0000-0002-7116-7073]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/143067
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1129648
dc.rights© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2024.104193
dc.subjectFetal monitoring
dc.subjectRandomised controlled trial
dc.subjectSatisfaction
dc.titleWomen's satisfaction with intrapartum fetal surveillance: A mixed-method study within the STan Australian randomised controlled trial (START)
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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