Xu Vicky X, Mogren Ingrid, Bergström Cecilia, Edvardsson Kristina, Small Rhonda, Flood Margaret, Holmlund Sophia, Aldrich Rosemary, Brennecke Shaun, McDonald Susan, McEvoy Michael, Said Joanne M, Shembrey Michael, Yuen Nicola, East Christine E
Pregnancy Research Centre, Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2025 Apr;65(2):190-197. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13879. Epub 2024 Sep 20.
Obstetric ultrasound is an important tool, aiding in screening, diagnosis, and surveillance throughout pregnancy.
To explore obstetric doctors', midwives', and sonographers' experiences and views of obstetric ultrasound in Victoria, Australia. To investigate the increasing role of obstetric ultrasound for clinical management, and the adequacy of resources and training for appropriate use of ultrasound in clinical management.
This cross-sectional study forms part of a multi-national CROss-Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS) exploring the views of consumers and health professionals from high-, middle- and low-income countries. Qualitative studies conducted in several countries informed the construction of a quantitative survey. These quantitative surveys were distributed to 16 hospitals across regional and metropolitan Victoria, Australia. Descriptive statistics were analysed from the responses.
There were 354 questionnaires returned from 106 doctors, 222 midwives, and 26 sonographers. Overall, 72% of respondents held concerns about the potential loss of focus on clinical skills with increasing ultrasound use. Midwives were more concerned about the contribution of ultrasound to medicalisation of pregnancy than were doctors (P < 0.001). Many respondents noted that geographical factors (71%), rather than income levels (53%) influenced access to obstetric ultrasound. Over 90% of doctors and midwives believed additional training for their respective professions in ultrasound would enhance its reach and effectiveness.
Our survey findings confirm that clinicians place high levels of trust in the diagnostic findings of obstetric ultrasound antenatal care in Australia. Access to routine ultrasound could be improved for women in rural and lower-income areas.
产科超声是一项重要工具，有助于整个孕期的筛查、诊断和监测。
探讨澳大利亚维多利亚州产科医生、助产士和超声科医生对产科超声的经验和看法。调查产科超声在临床管理中日益增加的作用，以及临床管理中超声合理使用的资源和培训是否充足。
这项横断面研究是跨国超声研究（CROCUS）的一部分，该研究探讨了高、中、低收入国家消费者和卫生专业人员的观点。在几个国家进行的定性研究为定量调查的构建提供了信息。这些定量调查被分发给澳大利亚维多利亚州地区和大都市的16家医院。对回复进行描述性统计分析。
共收回354份问卷，其中来自106名医生、222名助产士和26名超声科医生。总体而言，72%的受访者担心随着超声使用的增加，临床技能可能会被忽视。与医生相比，助产士更担心超声对妊娠医学化的影响（P < 0.001）。许多受访者指出，地理因素（71%）而非收入水平（53%）影响了产科超声的可及性。超过90%的医生和助产士认为，各自专业在超声方面的额外培训将提高其应用范围和效果。
我们的调查结果证实，澳大利亚临床医生对产科超声产前检查的诊断结果高度信任。农村和低收入地区妇女的常规超声检查可及性有待提高。
