The value of surveys in obstetric anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND

The Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association (OAA) has facilitated national surveys in obstetric anaesthesia since 1998. We wanted to examine trends in OAA-approved surveys since this time.

METHODS

OAA-approved surveys performed between January 1998 and December 2012 were examined for the year they were carried out, the format (postal or electronic), the target group and the response rate. We determined whether each survey was presented or published. For each survey published as a substantive paper, we identified the number of times the publication had been cited. We also surveyed lead obstetric anaesthetists and expert witnesses practising in obstetric anaesthesia on the perceived usefulness of OAA-approved surveys.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-five surveys approved by the OAA were carried out between 1998 and 2012. Response rates have fallen over the years, reaching a current plateau of 65%. Response rates varied with the target group. Seventy-eight percent of surveys were presented and 83% were published in some form. For surveys published as substantive papers (n=34, 25%), the median [IQR (range)] number of citations was 6 [3-11 (0-36)] per publication. Our survey of lead obstetric anaesthetists had a response rate of 62%. Those who replied rated OAA surveys a median [IQR (range)] of 6 [5-7 (1-9)] on a 0-10 scale of usefulness to their clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Response rates to OAA-approved surveys have declined but remain acceptable despite an increase in the number of surveys performed. Most surveys were presented or published in some form.