Comparative effectiveness in medicine: analysis of episiotomy practice patterns

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Authors
Chung, Sim Wee
Subjects
Episiotomy
Spontaneous Delivery
Operative Delivery
Hartmann
Comparative Effectiveness Research
Advisors
Shen, Yu-Chu
Date of Issue
2011-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis provides empirical evidence to demonstrate or disprove claims that findings from a major systematic review published in 2005, have led to further declines in practices of episiotomy. The study uses data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project: State Inpatient Databases (HCUP SID) and American Hospital Association (AHA) annual surveys. The sample consists of 648,141 patients from 897 hospitals between 2003 and 2008. Both fixed and random effects models are specified to estimate the effects of the JAMA publication, hospital characteristics including interaction terms and patient compositions on episiotomy rates. In addition the study analyzes variation of practice patterns to examine whether the JAMA publication has the desirable impact on clinical practices. The results show that the declining episiotomy trends accelerate marginally after the JAMA publication. Hospitals do not also appear to respond differentially to the JAMA publication for most hospital characteristics, except for hospital sizes, maternity ward turnover and ownership structure. The analysis of practice pattern variation suggests that practice variations by volumes are declining but variances of episiotomy rates remain substantial. More effective strategies should be formulated to reach out to different audiences to bridge the gap between research evidences and clinical practices on episiotomy.
Type
Thesis
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Format
xvi, 81 p. ; 28 cm.
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Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.
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