Research Summary and Ethical Considerations
Running head: RESEARCH SUMMARY AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Research Summary and Ethical Considerations
Research Summary and Ethical Considerations
As the move towards evidence based medicine continues to progress, research of interventions in the labor process are becoming more and more common. “The Relationship Between Cesarean Section and Labor Induction” by Barbara Wilson, Judith Efken, and Richard Butler is an examination and clarification of how system and patient characteristics have an effect on the association between cesarean section and induction of labor. While many studies have included patient characteristics; the influence of individual providers and hospitals has not been examined.
Cesarean section is currently the second most common surgery in the US, behind only circumcision at this time. The cesarean birth rate increased by 46% from 1996 to 2006. Cesarean sections impact future maternal health by increasing the rate of placenta previa, accrete, stillbirth and uterine rupture; risks that may not seem important in the midst of active labor but will have a significant impact with future pregnancies. The World Health Organization has a current goal of a 15% cesarean rate (with which the Department of Health and Human Service concurs) yet the 2010 rate was 31.1% in the US; the highest ever. In addition the medical risks, Cesarean section is a significantly more costly procedure not only in the operation itself but with associated longer hospital stays requiring more nursing care and longer recoveries. Labor induction is becoming a well know option to the general public but the effect of artificially induced contractions has not been as well publicized. The association between induction and cesarean section is controversial: this study suggests the possibility that physicians who are more willing to begin labor with one intervention may have a bias to continue to offer more interventions throughout labor. Four prior studies are
Research Summary and Ethical Considerations
Research Summary and Ethical Considerations
As the move towards evidence based medicine continues to progress, research of interventions in the labor process are becoming more and more common. “The Relationship Between Cesarean Section and Labor Induction” by Barbara Wilson, Judith Efken, and Richard Butler is an examination and clarification of how system and patient characteristics have an effect on the association between cesarean section and induction of labor. While many studies have included patient characteristics; the influence of individual providers and hospitals has not been examined.
Cesarean section is currently the second most common surgery in the US, behind only circumcision at this time. The cesarean birth rate increased by 46% from 1996 to 2006. Cesarean sections impact future maternal health by increasing the rate of placenta previa, accrete, stillbirth and uterine rupture; risks that may not seem important in the midst of active labor but will have a significant impact with future pregnancies. The World Health Organization has a current goal of a 15% cesarean rate (with which the Department of Health and Human Service concurs) yet the 2010 rate was 31.1% in the US; the highest ever. In addition the medical risks, Cesarean section is a significantly more costly procedure not only in the operation itself but with associated longer hospital stays requiring more nursing care and longer recoveries. Labor induction is becoming a well know option to the general public but the effect of artificially induced contractions has not been as well publicized. The association between induction and cesarean section is controversial: this study suggests the possibility that physicians who are more willing to begin labor with one intervention may have a bias to continue to offer more interventions throughout labor. Four prior studies are