Interprofessional Provider Attitudes Toward the Initiation of Epidural Analgesia in the Laboring Patient: Are We All on the Same Page?

Abstract

(Int J Obstet Anesth. 2019;37:57–67) During labor and delivery, the initiation of labor epidural analgesia should ultimately be determined by the patient’s preference. Practice guidelines from both the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists state that epidural analgesia can be offered early in labor and maternal request should be a legitimate indication for performing the procedure. However, different healthcare providers may prioritize different factors when counseling patients on the subject of the “best” time during labor to request epidural analgesia. In fact, information is limited about the attitudes of different types of health care providers regarding the timing of epidural placement during labor. This study surveyed a variety of providers to determine how patient factors or circumstances might affect their decision-making about the timing of epidural labor analgesia initiation. Their goal was to use this survey data to identify differences among provider types and ultimately improve understanding and education on the topic to promote patient-centered care.