Deutsche Vergleichsportale für Hebammensuche: ein hilfreiches Entscheidungsinstrument für Schwangere?

Comparison portals for health care providers search can help pregnant women to identify a suitable midwife. In the present study, we aimed to analyze such websites in Germany and to evaluate their benefit for pregnant women.

Via search engine Google and using the PRISMA reporting statement, we identified 25 German websites that allow for a midwife search in Germany. After drawing a sample of 550 midwife profiles on those websites, we collected data on their content (structural, process, and outcome quality dimensions suggested by Avedis Donabedian) and functions (e.g., filtering, sorting, comparing), and evaluated the benefit of the websites via a five-category-checklist (e.g., social competence).

Most websites focus exclusively on midwife search (92%) and are provided with information by midwives (60%) or their associations (16%). One third (n = 8) of the websites do not provide information sources. Predominantly, elements of structural quality and options for searching and filtering of information are available. Several relevant information (e.g., qualification, outcome quality) and functions (e.g., comparing, ratings) are insufficiently available. In the benefit assessment, the websites achieved a total of 114 out of 400 points possible, which is equivalent to a coverage rate of less than 30%.

In the current form, comparison portals are not only less helpful for pregnant women when choosing a midwife, but also lack the potential to improve the quality of care. For appropriate quality reporting on comparison portals, information should be independent and transparent. In addition to structural quality information, “hard facts” must also be displayed and patient ratings should be possible. Furthermore, additional complexity-reducing functions should be integrated to make the information easier to use.