Longitudinal Assessment of Examiner Experience and the Accuracy of Sonographic Fetal Weight Estimation at Term

Abstract

These findings indicate the great importance of continuous quality control systems in sonographic weight estimation.

LongitudinalzScore Distribution in Sonographic Fetal Biometry: Influence of Examiner and Experience

“…study demonstrated a similar effect of experience on the accuracy of sonographic weight estimation, with a decrease in diagnostic performance in terms of a clear tendency toward underestimation after approximately 200 scans until the end of the study period. 17 A possible explanation for this unexpected result may be found in the fact that fetal biometry is considered by many as a basic diagnostic procedure, for which once a certain degree of experience has been gained, attention to detail may be lost, resulting in reduced accuracy.…”

“…In a former study, we could already demonstrate a nonlinear effect of experience on the accuracy of sonographic weight estimation, with a decrease in diagnostic performance after approximately 200 scans . However, in that study, measurements of the different biometric parameters were not evaluated separately.…”

“…In a former study, we could already demonstrate a nonlinear effect of experience on the accuracy of sonographic weight estimation, with a decrease in diagnostic performance after approximately 200 scans. 17 However, in that study, measurements of the different biometric parameters were not evaluated separately. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of examiners and their experience on the quality of biometric measurements via the evolution of z scores in a longitudinal multicenter study.…”

Adipositas und andere Einflussgrößen auf die sonographische Schätzgenauigkeit makrosomer Neugeborener

“…SDP sein. Auch für den Einfluss der Qualifikation des Arztes konnten wir keine Signifikanz nachweisen, obwohl in der Literatur oftmals ein klarer Zusammenhang zwischen dem Erfahrungsgrad des Untersuchers und dem Schätzfehler, zu Gunsten eines höheren Ausbildungsstandes, genannt wird [36]. Für den maternalen BMI, als mögliche Einflussgröße auf die Schätzgenauigkeit, konnte eine sichere Verschlechterung der sonographischen Schätzung ab einem Wert ≥ 25 kg/m² gezeigt werden [37].…”

The importance of the learning process in ST analysis interpretation and its impact in improving clinical and neonatal outcomes

“…However, prior to a methodology's becoming common practice, there is often a so-called learning curve, or a period of time during which experience is gathered and proficiency is attained. [49][50][51] Because the identification of clinically significant STevents requires knowledge and repeated training, we believe that a learning curve exists in the incorporation of the method into routine clinical practice.…”