Abstract

Aims: To assess staff acceptability of STAN^® monitoring system.

Methods: This was a prospective study of health care professionals involved in the first 18 months of STAN^® use at a high risk maternity unit.

Results: During the study period 75% of midwives and 80% of doctors questioned felt confident when interpreting STAN^® cases. A total of 88% of midwives and 90% of doctors felt adequately supported in their actual clinical use of the system. Of all the obstetricians who used the STAN^®, 95% felt it was an acceptable alternative to fetal blood sampling. One of the main complaints was poor signal quality which occurred in 16% of cases. As many as 97% of doctors and 96% of midwives considered STAN^® to be an acceptable way of monitoring high risk women after its introduction.

Conclusions: Introduction of a new monitoring system to a high risk labor ward is possible, and acceptable to its staff. Constant practical and theoretical support and adherence to strict, easily understood guidelines is required.