Videotaping obstetric procedures. Assessment of obstetricians and family physicians.

OBJECTIVE To compare the attitudes and practice of Iowa obstetricians (OBs) and family physicians (FPs) regarding patients' desires to videotape obstetric procedures. DESIGN All Iowa OBs (172) and FPs (438) who practice obstetrics received a questionnaire exploring their attitudes and practice patterns regarding videotaping obstetric procedures. Data were analyzed using chi 2, odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and multiple logistic regression. SETTING The state of Iowa. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Degree to which physicians allow videotaping and characteristics that contribute to any differences between OBs and FPs. RESULTS The response rate was 87.8% (536 of 610 participants). Obstetricians were more likely than FPs to prevent patients from filming medical procedures (40.8% vs 19.1%, respectively, P < .001), modify their actions and conversation when video cameras were present (34.5% vs 25.5%, respectively, P = .046), and be tempted to turn off the camera when complications arose (35.1% vs 14.0%, respectively, P < .001). Younger OBs (aged, 25-40 years) were more likely than older OBs (aged, 41-80 years) to disallow videocameras (52.7% vs 33.3%, respectively, P = .02). Legal concerns were cited by more than 80% of OBs and FPs who disallowed videotaping. CONCLUSIONS A significant difference was noted between OBs and FPs in their willingness to allow video recording of obstetric procedures. Legal concerns were cited by most OBs and FPs who had disallowed videotaping.