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Table 1 Table of papers found outlining opinions of medical personnel and families in Australia with regards to the provision of care for extremely preterm babies

From: Factors influencing the care provided for periviable babies in Australia: a narrative review

Study author

Date

Population

Sample size

Methodology

Outcome of study

Mulvey et al. [38]

Published 2001

Obstetricians in hospitals with Level 3 NICU, No Northern Australian participants

89 participants, 48 % response rate

Survey

Majority would always discuss resuscitation from 23 weeks. Majority underestimate survival. Paediatric opinion then parental opinion used to inform decisions.

Gooi et al. [39]

Published 2001

Obstetricians from hospitals providing level 2 neonatal care

174 participants, 75 % response rate

Survey

Median for resuscitation 24 weeks gestation. Refer to tertiary unit over 24 weeks except in West Australia and Victoria – 23 weeks

De Garis et al. [36]

Published 1987

Neonatologists from all 18 NICU in Australia

51 participants, response rate not given

Survey, some open ended questions

Majority under estimate survival. Majority offer full resuscitation over 24 weeks gestation, consider later withdrawal of care if neurological concern

Oei et al. [40]

Study 1997–1998 Published 2000

All neonatologists in Australia

71 participant neonatologists 93 % response rate , 41 neonatal nurse participants, 74 % response rate

Survey, some open ended questions

Doctors median age for care 24 weeks- range 22–25 Nurses median age of care 25 weeks- range 23–28 Parental opinion should influence resuscitation but majority would overrule parents at 25 weeks Doctors more accurate estimate of survival and morbidity

Munro et al. [37]

Published 2001

100 neonatologists in Australia

70 % response rate

Survey

Majority always counseled over 23 weeks and would give mortality and morbidity data. Obstetricians’ main influence in decision to provide resuscitation. Consider parental opinion from 23 to 25 weeks

Martinez et al. [43]

Study 1999 Published 2005

Part of large Pacific Rim study comparing practice in different countries. Neonatologists throughout Australia

Participant number unclear, 68 % response rate

Survey

Obstetric opinion and previous parental infant loss would be main influences of what counseling provided. Majority said that family should be decision makers for resuscitation where parents and doctor disagreed

Partridge et al. [26]

Study 1998 Published 2005

Part of large Pacific Rim study comparing practice in different countries. Parents in Melbourne Australia. Babies under 1501 g, mean gestation 29.2 weeks

51 Australian parents response rate unknown

Survey (by structured telephone interview)

74 % felt that physicians had made all resuscitation decisions alone. Majority of babies had done better than expected from the antenatal counseling prognosis. Less than 50 % felt that ante-natal counseling adequate