Visual analysis of antepartum fetal heart rate tracings: inter- and intra-observer agreement and impact of knowledge of neonatal outcome

Figueras et al. (2005) conducted an observational in Antepartum fetal heart rate tracings (n=100). Knowledge of fictitious perinatal outcome vs. No knowledge of perinatal outcome (unbiased observers) was evaluated on Inter- and intra-observer agreement (proportion of agreement and intra-class correlation coefficient). Visual assessment of fetal heart rate tracings is unreliable due to low agreement rates, and knowledge of clinical information introduces subjectivity that negatively impacts reliability.