Pilot Testing of a Digital Solution for Pregnancy Care

Testing of the digital solution in three different geographical areas.

- THE PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED -

The paper-based maternity record is being replaced by a digital solution designed for both healthcare professionals and pregnant women, with the aim of improving and future-proofing pregnancy care in Denmark.

The national project ‘Digital Solution for Pregnancy Care’ is organized into several sub-projects. The ‘Pilot Testing of a Digital Solution for Pregnancy Care’ is one of these sub-projects.

Testing the Pregnancy Folder and App

The digital solution for pregnancy care consists of a pregnancy folder through which data is shared between healthcare professionals and the pregnant woman. Healthcare professionals access the pregnancy folder via a web solution called the “Pregnancy Portal,” which is designed for health visitors and hospital staff, while general practitioners access it through the “Digital Maternity Record.” Pregnant women access the folder through an app called “My Pregnancy.”

During the testing period, collaboration also took place with the “Min Læge” app, where pregnant women answered a questionnaire to optimize the time spent during their first pregnancy consultation with their doctor.

The pilot testing was carried out in three specific geographical areas: Odense University Hospital, South Jutland Hospital, and Rigshospitalet. The testing was conducted in each location through cross-sectoral collaboration with Odense, Aabenraa, and Copenhagen municipalities, as well as five local medical practices from each location.

Simultaneously with the pilot testing, Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark conducted the first evaluation, using the same user group.

Purpose

This project aims to test the digitization of maternity records and evaluate their value for healthcare professionals, pregnant women, and their families.

Objectives

The objective of this project is to digitally support pregnancy care in medical practices, maternity wards, and municipal health care.

Criteria for success:

The pilot has been carried out in 1-3 regions and has involved general practitioners, midwives, health visitors, and pregnant women.
Knowledge and experiences have been collected to form the basis for adjustments and preparations prior to national implementation.

Results of the test

The pilot test clarified the value of allowing pregnant women and their families access to these records, as well as the value for healthcare professionals using the pregnancy folder in their daily work.

All participants in the pilot setup recognized its value; however, users expect even greater potential in further testing and implementation. Particularly in relation to:

Involving the pregnant woman’s partner.
Having an overview of the individual woman’s pregnancy timeline.
Data and note sharing among healthcare professionals.
Integration of the digital solution as a dialogue tool.

The project experienced strong engagement amongst participants, particularly clinicians, whose direct feedback and testing in multiple iterations contributed to improving the user interface and ensuring its operational and technical cohesion.

The pilot test provided valuable knowledge for broader implementation, especially regarding workflows, staff training, support setups, and additional considerations. All participant groups indicated via a questionnaire that they are motivated for the implementation of a digital solution for pregnancy care.

A focus on eliminating duplicate registrations, along with login and user management, are key elements in further development of the solution.