2.2. Data collection
The participating hospitals completed the survey forms, and all data were uploaded. This thromboembolism survey was designed to evaluate the hospital related factors of VTE within Donabedian’s framework [15-16]. It covered the following aspects: basic information on the obstetrician who filled the survey, hospital-related characteristics, hospital system and strategy, diagnosis and treatment in the hospital, and patient education. The chief of the Department of Obstetrics or senior physicians in each hospital submitted the survey questionnaire and VTE case report. Trained staff members, assigned for data quality control, telephoned the point of contact in the case of any queries.
The primary outcome of this survey was the number of cases and incidence of DVT, PE, and maternal death due to VTE. Hospital-related factors predominantly included: general information (hospital type, hospital characteristics, annual delivery, Cesarean section rate), hospital system and strategy (VTE management system, risk assessment scale, emergency transfer/consultation), diagnostic and treatment methods used in the hospital (D-dimer test, ultrasound of the lower extremity vein, computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), anticoagulants, and elastic stockings/compression devices), and patient education (education on health, and early mobilization and timing).