Biomaterial Database

Consultation in family practice obstetrics. 1995

A J Reid, and J C Carroll, and J Ruderman, and M Murray

Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto.

OBJECTIVE To examine the types of non-low-risk obstetric patients managed by family physicians in urban teaching hospitals, and to determine indications for consultation for women at low risk when labour began. METHODS Retrospective chart review for all patients delivered by family physicians in three downtown Toronto teaching hospitals during 1 year. RESULTS Of 1710 cases, 595 (34.8%) were classified as non-low risk, with the main indications being postdates (> 42 weeks) (19.9%); pregnancy-induced hypertension (19.3%); and premature labour (< 37 weeks) (14.8%). Of the 1115 low-risk patients, 363 (32.6%) had an intrapartum consultation, usually for failure to progress (50.1%) or fetal distress (12.7%). More than 80% of intrapartum consultations were associated with induction and augmentation of labour. CONCLUSIONS Family physicians can continue to care for many non-low-risk women, usually with the help of obstetricians. Consultations were obtained for many women at low risk. We need to reevaluate whether some mandatory consultations are necessary in family practice obstetrics.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008499	Medical Records	Recording of pertinent information concerning patient's illness or illnesses.	Health Diaries,Medical Transcription,Records, Medical,Transcription, Medical,Diaries, Health,Diary, Health,Health Diary,Medical Record,Medical Transcriptions,Record, Medical,Transcriptions, Medical
D009774	Obstetrics	A medical-surgical specialty concerned with management and care of women during pregnancy, parturition, and the puerperium.
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D012017	Referral and Consultation	The practice of sending a patient to another program or practitioner for services or advice which the referring source is not prepared to provide.	Consultation,Gatekeepers, Health Service,Hospital Referral,Second Opinion,Consultation and Referral,Health Service Gatekeepers,Hospital Referrals,Referral,Referral, Hospital,Referrals, Hospital,Consultations,Gatekeeper, Health Service,Health Service Gatekeeper,Opinion, Second,Opinions, Second,Referrals,Second Opinions
D005194	Family Practice	A medical specialty concerned with the provision of continuing, comprehensive primary health care for the entire family.	Family Practices,Practice, Family,Practices, Family
D005260	Female		Females
D006784	Hospitals, Teaching	Hospitals engaged in educational and research programs, as well as providing medical care to the patients.	Hospital, Teaching,Teaching Hospital,Teaching Hospitals
D006786	Hospitals, Urban	Hospitals located in metropolitan areas.	City Hospitals,Hospitals, City,Hospitals, City, Non-Public-Owned,Hospitals, Metropolitan,Urban Hospitals,City Hospitals, Non-Public-Owned,Metropolitan Hospitals,Non-Public-Owned City Hospitals,City Hospital,City Hospital, Non-Public-Owned,City Hospitals, Non Public Owned,Hospital, City,Hospital, Metropolitan,Hospital, Non-Public-Owned City,Hospital, Urban,Hospitals, Non-Public-Owned City,Metropolitan Hospital,Non Public Owned City Hospitals,Non-Public-Owned City Hospital,Urban Hospital
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012189	Retrospective Studies	Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons.	Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective