Qualitative analysis by interviews and video recordings to establish the components of a skilled rotational forceps delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To define the skills of a mid-cavity rotational forceps delivery to facilitate transfer of skills from expert obstetricians to trainee obstetricians.

STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative interviews and video analysis carried out at maternity units of two university teaching hospitals (St. Michael's Hospital, Bristol, and Ninewells Hospital, Dundee). Ten obstetricians were identified as experts in conducting operative vaginal deliveries. Semi-structured interviews were carried out to identify key technical skills. The experts were also video recorded conducting mid-cavity rotational deliveries in a simulation setting. The interviews and video recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic coding. The anonymised data were individually coded by the three researchers and then compared for consistency of interpretation. The experts reviewed the data for respondent validation. The themes that emerged following the coding were used to formulate a taxonomy of skills.

RESULTS: Rotational forceps were preferred by eight experts and two experts preferred manual rotation followed by direct traction forceps. The final taxonomy included detailed technical skills for Kielland rotational forceps delivery and manual rotation followed by direct traction forceps delivery.

CONCLUSION: This explicitly defined skills taxonomy could aid trainees' understanding of the technique of rotational forceps delivery. This is an important potential contributor to safely reducing the rate of second-stage caesarean section.