Measurement in planning of obstetric care

Abstract

Introduction. The measurement performed during obstetric care allows for evaluation of the state of health of a pregnant woman and the foetus.The role of measurement in the diagnosis formulation is very important.

Aim. The objective of the study was determination of the significance of measurement in the planning of obstetric care of a pregnant woman.

Material and methods. The study was conducted in 2007 by means of a diagnostic survey, with the use of a questionnaire form designed by the author. The study covered 102 (100%) occupationally active midwives.

Results. Based on the data collected it was noted that history taking was the best known method of collecting information concerning a patient (indicated by 26.14% of respondents), followed by observation (25.06%), and analysis of records (24.80%). Measurement as the method of collecting data about a patient was reported by 24.00% of respondents. The methods of data collection most frequently applied by midwives were: observation (27.88%), followed by measurement (27.25%), and history taking (25.96%), while the analysis of records was most rarely applied by the respondents (18.91%). The study showed that a large majority of midwives participating in the study (89.22%) were familiar with the measurement techniques. The remaining ones (10.78%) mentioned lack of knowledge in this area. As many as 86.28% of midwives indicated measurement as an independent technique in their work, whereas 3.92% of respondents were of an opposite opinion. The greatest majority of midwives participating in the study (94.12%) admitted that measurement is a quick and effective method of data collection, while only 0.98% of respondents expressed an opposite opinion. As manyas 90.19% of respondents considered measurement as the method indispensable for the planning of individual care of a pregnant woman. A negative opinion in this respect was expressed by 2.94% of midwives. In the opinions of the midwives in the survey, the role of measurement in the formulation of nursing diagnosis is very important (84.32%), whereas every 10th respondent (10.78%) considered this role as important, and only 2.94% as unimportant. According to the respondents, measurement provides the greatest amount of information concerning the general state of a patient – 35.44%, and the obstetric status – 37.13%.

Conclusions. The measurement performed by a midwife is a necessary method for collecting data about a patient. Such an opinion was expressed by as manyas 90.19% of midwives in the survey. Nearly 100% of respondents were of the opinion that measurement is a quick and effective method of data collection. According to as many as84.32% of respondents the method of measurement is very important in making a nursing diagnosis.