What finding best indicates the effectiveness of prostaglandin (PGE2) gel in labor induction?

The effectiveness of prostaglandin (PGE2) gel in labor induction is best indicated by the enhancement of the patient’s uterine contraction pattern. Prostaglandins are used to ripen the cervix and stimulate uterine contractions, which are essential components in initiating labor. When the uterine contraction pattern becomes more frequent and effective, it suggests that the medication is working to induce labor.

While other findings, such as the cervix being fully effaced or the patient's water breaking, can indicate progress in labor, they do not specifically measure the direct impact of the prostaglandin gel. The stability of the heart rate is important but does not reflect the effectiveness of the labor induction process itself. Thus, observing enhanced uterine contractions is the most direct measure of the gel's effectiveness in initiating labor.