Are trainees trained to use Kielland forceps and do they maintain their skills?

Abstract

The Kielland forcep is an instrument which should be used only by a well-trained operator who has frequent opportunity to maintain his or her skills. A trainee was defined as a junior doctor who possessed the MRCOG part I or above. The Survey of Training (2002) questionnaires were sent to all College Tutors to be distributed to 1857 eligible trainees. As part of the survey trainees were asked the following. (1) Have you been trained to perform rotational forceps (Kiellands)? (2) How many did you perform in the last 12 months? The total number of respondents equalled 930 (50.1%). Two hundred and ninety-nine (31.2%) trainees were senior house officers (SHOs), 538 (57.8%) were specialist registrars (SpRs). The remaining 93 were a mix of lecturers and research fellows. Thirty-seven (12.4%) SHOs had been trained to perform Kiellands, of whom 12 (32.4%) had performed none and 13 (35.1%) had performed only 1–3 in the last 12 months; 175 (32.5%) SpRs had been trained to perform Kiellands, of whom 61 (34.9%) had performed none and 62 (35.4%) had performed only 1–3 in the last 12 months.