Determination of fetal head station: Do professors and residents of obstetrics and gynecology reach an agreement?

Background: Determination of fetal head station is an important factor during labor progress. This study evaluated the agreement and correlation between professors and residents of obstetrics and gynecology in the determination of fetal head station based on a vaginal examination during labor.  Methods: In this cross-sectional study, term pregnant women with cephalic presentation in an active phase of labor underwent vaginal examinations simultaneously by residents and professors of obstetrics and gynecology. Their examination findings regarding a fetal head station, cervical dilation and effacement were recorded both by professors and the residents. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 using Spearman’s correlation and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient tests between results obtained by two groups of assessors (residents and professors). Results: Our data analysis showed that the agreement between obstetricians and residents for cervical dilatation, cervical effacement, and a fetal head station was 0.88, 0.9 and 0.67 respectively (p <0.001). The correlation between obstetricians and residents for determination of cervical dilatation, cervical effacement and, a fetal head station was 0.77, 0.79 and 0.52, respectively (p <0.001). Conclusions: The agreement and correlation between professors and residents in obstetrics and gynecology about the determination of fetal head station are lower than those for cervical dilatation and effacement. Because of the importance of accurate determination of fetal head station in the first stage of labor, a new approach (new invented device for determine fetal head station) should be developed to for determining of fetal station.