All of the following are the main purposes of Bishop's score, EXCEPT:

Appeared in: DSSSB 6 September 2024

Explanation

The Bishop score is a pre-labor assessment tool used to predict the likelihood of a successful labor induction.
Its components evaluate the physical status of the cervix (dilation, effacement, consistency, position) and the position of the fetus (station).
The score has no function related to measuring or estimating blood loss, which is an intrapartum and postpartum assessment.

Option A: This is incorrect because 'Fetal Station,' a measure of the fetal presenting part's descent into the pelvis, is a key component of the Bishop score. It is a way of evaluating the fetal position.
Option B: This is incorrect because evaluating cervical status is the central purpose of the Bishop score. Four of its five components (dilation, effacement, consistency, and position) are direct assessments of the cervix.
Option D: This is incorrect because determining maternal readiness for labor is the primary goal of the Bishop score. A higher score indicates greater readiness and a higher probability of a successful induction.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Bishop's Score for assessing cervical ripeness and predicting labor induction success as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use the Bishop score to plan care for labor induction. A low score may indicate the need for cervical ripening agents (like prostaglandins) before administering oxytocin.
The score is a crucial communication tool between nurses and physicians to discuss the plan of care and patient progress.
It helps in managing patient expectations by providing a more objective measure of how likely an induction is to succeed and the potential duration of labor.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword 'EXCEPT' in the question stem. This signals that you need to find the option that does NOT align with the purpose of the Bishop's score.
Recall the primary function of the Bishop score: to assess cervical ripeness and predict the success of labor induction.
Systematically evaluate each option against this primary function.
Option A ('evaluate foetal position') is part of the score via 'fetal station'.
Option B ('evaluate the cervical status') is the core of the score.
Option D ('determine maternal readiness for labour') is the overall goal of the score.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Bishop's Score for assessing cervical ripeness and predicting labor induction success.
Stem keywords: Bishop's score, main purposes
Lead-in keywords: EXCEPT
Negative lead-in flag: This is a negative-lead question asking for the exception.

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E6 Obstetrics Williams pp. 24-42, 80-94

Practise the full DSSSB 6 September 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.