Influences on safety of intrapartum electronic fetal heart rate monitoring practices: a scoping review (22 December 2024)

Summary

Suboptimal intrapartum electronic fetal heart rate monitoring using cardiotocography has remained a persistent problem (EFM-CTG). This study aimed to identify the range of influences on the safety of using EFM-CTG in practice.

The authors looked at 142 articles and 14 reports and identified influences on EFM practice across all 19 domains of the contributory factors framework, including those relating to cognitive, social and organisational factors and interactions between professional work and tools used for fetal monitoring.

They concluded that to reduce avoidable harm associated with electronic fetal monitoring a systems approach is required based on a sound understanding of the full range of influences on practice.