Redesigning German Maternity Records: Results from a Pilot study

Area of Science:

• Maternal Health
• Public Health Documentation
• Healthcare Innovation

Background:

• The German maternity record (GMR, "Mutterpass") is crucial for antenatal care.
• Its pre-existing factors section has been unchanged since 1986.
• Updates to serological and ultrasound sections have occurred, but not to health history documentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utility of a health-focused revision of the GMR.
• To assess if the revised GMR meets the needs of pregnant women and healthcare providers.
• To evaluate user-friendliness and acceptance of the updated document.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary expert panel revised the GMR, emphasizing health and salutogenesis.
• The revised GMR includes space for personal notes and birth place selection.
• User-friendliness and acceptance were tested with 23 participants (consultants, midwives, pregnant women) using the document and an electronic survey.

Main Results:

• 92% of consultants and midwives preferred the revised GMR.
• 83% of pregnant women appreciated the space for personal notes.
• 90% of respondents reported a good general impression of the revised GMR.

Conclusions:

• The health-focused GMR represents an initial optimization of maternity records in Germany.
• Further revisions should extend beyond mandatory guideline content.
• The study highlights the potential for improved antenatal care documentation and patient engagement.