Association of personal and systemic factors on intrapartum risk perception and obstetric intervention rates: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Risk perception is fundamental to decision-making; therefore its exploration is essential to gaining a comprehensive understanding of the decision-making process for peripartum interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between personal and systemic factors of the work setting and the risk perception of obstetric healthcare professionals, and in turn how this might influence decisions regarding obstetric interventions.

Methods: Case vignettes were used to measure risk perception.

Intrapartum risk perception-A qualitative exploration of factors affecting the risk perception of midwives and obstetricians in the clinical setting.

Objective: to gain an in-depth view of the specific risk perception of midwives and obstetricians, in order to achieve a deeper understanding of the situations which midwives and obstetricians perceive as risky and of the factors affecting their risk perception.

Design: a qualitative approach using focus group discussions was used as part of the first strand within a sequential explorative mixed methods project.

Participants: 24 midwives and obstetricians providing labour care in the clinical setting ANALYSIS: according to qualitative content analysis.

Risk Perception of Health Professionals in Intrapartum Care Decisions: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Risk perception plays an important role in decision-making processes. Differences in obstetric intervention rates suggest that, in addition to medical indications, the risk perception of obstetric health professionals might have a major influence on their decision-making process during childbirth. Although studies have investigated whether risk perception affects the role of midwifery or influences decision making during childbirth, little is known about what obstetric health professionals actually perceive as risk or risky situations and whether different risk perceptions lead to more interventions during intrapartum care.