OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the bias of perineal laceration classification, between the researcher and nurse midwives who functioned as experts within the research project. METHODS: The PDSA Cycle (Plan, Do, Study and Act) was used, with independent assessments of the perineal conditions of 26 women before (step 1) and after (step 2) presenting the research protocol to nurse midwives. Data were collected in 2007 at Amparo Maternal, an institution located in São Paulo-SP. Fourteen nurse midwives and one researcher participated. RESULTS: In step 1, we obtained 72.7% repeatability and agreement between the researcher and nurse midwives. During step 2, these characteristics decreased to 66.7%, indicating the persistence of bias in determining the degree of perineal laceration. CONCLUSION: The lack of 100% repeatability and agreement between the researcher and expert nurse midwives highlights the need for adopting a more precise classification for the degree of laceration, through education of these professionals.
Nurse-midiwfery; Perineum; Lacerations; Observer variation
