The aim of this study was to evaluate obstetric electronic data processing (EDP) in Austria and to analyse its problems, advantages and acceptance in a single big obstetric department. We sent questionnaires to every obstetric department in the country. The overall response rate was 77% (73 departments). Only 24 (33%) were using computer aided documentation, but these covered 63% of deliveries in Austria. The proportionate times spent on documentation were 57% for physicians and 43% for midwives, with physicians playing a bigger role in larger departments using electronic documentation. Sixty-five percent of physicians and 31% of midwives readily accepted computerization. We also studied an obstetric department with over 3000 births per year. Twenty-five percent of the medical staff did not believe that computerization saved time, although they appreciated its value to administration and for producing printouts. Advantages in completeness (92%) and accuracy (76%) were recognized. After 6 month's use acceptance of EDP documentation improved significantly.
We performed in 113 patients at least three simultaneous determinations of serum-HPL and oestriol in 24-hour urine samples, as well as Doppler flow studies at the arcuate artery (AA), umbilical artery (UA), foetal aorta and internal carotid, because of suspicion of IUGR. The diagnostic value was studied with regard to IUGR, placental weight and mode of delivery. Concerning the detection of IUGR, the superiority of Doppler parameters (AA, UA) is shown. In the total number of patients, the rates for sensitivity and specificity for UA (78/91%) and AA (58/89%) exceed the hormone parameters. Oestriol, in particular, (13/63%) shows a marked difference, but even HPL (37/63%) cannot compete with respect to diagnostic value.
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