Clinicians' perceptions of placing a fetal oximetry sensor.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine clinicians' perceptions of placing a fetal oximetry sensor. A survey was developed seeking details of staff category, birth suite experience, previous sensor placement, ease of application and use of epidural analgesia. Following staff feedback, the survey was revised from asking clinicians to rate women's comfort during sensor placement, to a visual analogue scale (VAS) of the clinician's assessment of the women's pain during sensor placement. Survey validity was sought from experts during development and for specific questions using item-total correlation in this analysis. Ease of sensor placement (n = 131) was rated as good or excellent 71% of the time. Clinicians rated women's comfort during sensor placement as good or excellent in 90% of cases. Median pain VAS was 0 (range 0-7.5). Item-total correlations of survey questions were all significant. Fetal oximetry sensor placement was rated well by clinicians in this purpose-designed survey.