Patients' satisfaction with and attitudes toward vaginal delivery
McLennan, M.T.; Alten, B.; Melick, C.; Hoehn, M.; Young, J.
Journal of Reproductive Medicine 50(10): 740-744
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-7758 PMID: 16320554 Document Number: 593037
OBJECTIVE: To determine patient satisfaction with delivery mode and whether information on urinary incontinence would modify their decision.STUDY DESIGN: Postpartum women completed an anonymous questionnaire regarding their delivery, complications, types of information received during pregnancy, and delivery and satisfaction with their mode of delivery. Various risk scenarios for urinary incontinence ranging from 10-50% were presented.RESULTS: One hundred ninety-two ethnically and economically diverse patients responded: 86.4% reported receiving sufficient information on the risks of delivery, and 61.5% thought that cesarean section would not help prevent urinary/fecal incontinence. Irrespective of the magnitude of risk, few patients (5.7-21.9%) chose cesarean section to prevent urinary incontinence.CONCLUSION: Patients were happy with their delivery mode. Most thought that they obtained sufficient information on the various types of delivery available. They would not have chosen a cesarean section over a vaginal delivery even if the risks of urinary incontinence were much higher than currently reported.