Fetal monitoring for healthcare personnel with limited or no obstetric expertise

It provides outputs or traces that show uterine contractions, fetal heart rate accelerations, and decelerations;3 analysis of the traces is required.3 During the prenatal stage, the aim of EFM is to monitor fetal heart rate, fetal activity, and overall fetal well-being.4 During labour, the aim is to use EFM data to monitor fetal oxygenation in order to prevent fetal adverse events.1,5 Although ele [...] Additionally, it seeks to review the evidence-based guidelines regarding the use and the training of healthcare professionals to use and interpret fetal monitors and their outputs. [...] Critical Appraisal of Individual Studies The included randomized study was critically appraised using the Downs and Black checklist,7 and the evidence-based guideline was assessed with the AGREE II instrument.8 Summary scores were not calculated for the included studies; rather, a review of the strengths and limitations of each included study were described narratively. [...] Country of Origin The RCT was conducted in Mexico9 and the evidence-based guideline was developed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RANZCOG).4 Patient Population The randomized study included 153 pregnant women in a rural region of Mexico.9 At study entry, women were 27 to 29 weeks pregnant and there were no significant differences between rates of [...] The prototype kit was new to the clinic, which prior to the introduction of the fetal monitoring kit had no access to a telephone and used a fetal stethoscope and obstetric measuring tape for prenatal monitoring.