ArticleBMJ open2021
Knowledge, attitude and experience of episiotomy practice among obstetricians and midwives: a cross-sectional study from China.
Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05905263 (The Effect of Virtual Reality Application on Student Satisfaction, Self-Confidence, and Anxiety Levels in Episiotomy Training), which is not on this map. Cited by 16 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
The Effect of Virtual Reality Application on Student Satisfaction, Self-Confidence, and Anxiety Levels in Episiotomy Training
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effects of manual perineal protection and pushing techniques used in the second stage of labor on perineal outcomes: a randomized controlled trial of combinations of strategies.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Trial
- Trial
- Effect of Rosemary Cream on Episiotomy Wound Healing in Primiparous Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2022Trial
- Impact of Episiotomy on Postpartum Pain, Pelvic Floor Function, and Sexual Health: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study and Prediction Model Development.International urogynecology journal · 2026Article
- Knowledge, attitudes and practices of Brazilian obstetricians in relation to childbirth care.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026Article
- An Evaluation of Polish Women's Knowledge of Perineal Incision: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- The episiotomy self-efficacy scale: a scale development study.BMC nursing · 2025Article
- Educational efficacy of the simulation-based episiotomy training: a multi-center observational study.BMC medical education · 2025Observational
- Incidence of Episiotomy in Kasr Alainy OBGYN Hospital in Cairo, Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study.Obstetrics and gynecology international · 2025Article
- Analysis of episiotomy incidence and risk factors in vaginal deliveries: a single-center.AJOG global reports · 2024Article
- Conservative Management of Retroperitoneal Hematoma Expanded to Prerenal Space Due to Episiotomy in a Woman with Vaginal Delivery, a case report.International journal of surgery case reports · 2024Article
- Obstetric Interventions Among Native and Migrant Women: The (Over)use of Episiotomy in Portugal.International journal of public health · 2024Article
- Low-Value Surgical Procedures in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Scoping Review.JAMA network open · 2023Article
- The Effects of Ginger (Journal of caring sciences · 2023Article
- Prophylactic antibiotic use during labor and delivery in China: a nationwide, multicenter, hospital-based, cross-sectional study.BMC medicine · 2022Article
- A nationwide cross-sectional survey of episiotomy practice in China.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveEpisiotomy is still performed widely by obstetricians and midwives in some Chinese maternity units, but the reasons are unknown. This study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude and experience towards the practice of episiotomy among obstetricians and midwives in China's public hospitals and consider strategies to reduce its practice.
methodsA cross-sectional web survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among obstetricians and midwives in 90 public hospitals in Henan Province, China.
results900 (82.21%) participants completed the questionnaire. Average knowledge level (4.15, SD=1.10) on complications and overuse was identified among participants. Episiotomy was performed more frequently in secondary hospitals than in tertiary hospitals (p<0.05). Senior clinicians were more likely to perform episiotomy than younger ones (p<0.05). Almost half of the clinicians (42.11%) considered the current rate of episiotomy (45%) to be right or too low. The most common reason for performing episiotomy identified by obstetricians (83.94%) and midwives (79.69%) was to reduce third-degree or fourth-degree perineal laceration. Both obstetricians (80.29%) and midwives (82.57%) agreed that the most significant obstacle to reducing the rate of episiotomy was lack of training on reducing perineal tears.
conclusionIn sum, episiotomy was driven by previous training, practitioners' experience and local norms rather than the latest medical evidence. Clinicians in secondary hospitals and senior clinicians are key training targets. It is urgent to improve current clinical policies and surgical procedure guidelines for obstetricians and midwives regarding episiotomy.
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Registered trials
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