Repeat digital cervical assessment in pregnancy for identifying women at risk of preterm labour.

摘要

BACKGROUND: Repeat digital cervical assessment (RDCA - examination of the cervix with a finger) has been promoted as a routine intervention in the antenatal clinic as a screening test for the risk of preterm birth (that is, birth occurring before 37 weeks of gestation).OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of repeat digital cervical assessment during pregnancy for the risk of preterm birth and other adverse effects for mother and baby.SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Child birth Group's Trials Register (September 2009) and CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2009, Issue 3). SELECTION CRITERIA: All known randomized clinical trials comparing repeat digital cervical assessment with internal examination limited to clinical indication or no internal examination. We have not included studies where repeat cervical assessment is only a component of complex interventions targeted at decreasing preterm birth.