Pm. Elferinkstinkens et al., OBSTETRIC CHARACTERISTICS PROFILES AS QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF OBSTETRICCARE, European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, 51(2), 1993, pp. 85-90
In The Netherlands only about 50% of all pregnancies are defined as hi
gh risk pregnancies and consequently come into the domain of care of a
n obstetrician. In order to qualify as a high risk pregnancy, the preg
nancy must satisfy certain criteria contained in an officially approve
d list of indications. Due to varying perceptions of these selection c
riteria by the selectors, larger differences in the treated population
, obstetric interventions and results, respectively, were expected tha
n in other countries. Within the framework of the project 'Obstetric P
eer Review' (Verloskundige Onderlinge Kwaliteitsspiegeling, VOKS) the
type and the magnitude of the differences of the values of the obstetr
ic characteristics of population, interventions and results, respectiv
ely have been investigated. For the high risk pregnancies the data con
tained in the Perinatal Database of The Netherlands were used for the
years 1983-1987, both inclusive. Because the various obstetric departm
ents in The Netherlands had been unaware of these differences, consequ
ently they had to become conscious about these differences and be info
rmed about their own position relative to the others. For an instant c
omparison a single sheet graphical method has been designed, affording
the assessment of one's own obstetric characteristics relative to tho
se of other departments for the above mentioned 5 years for each of th
e 25 items considered. All departments, which participated in the Peri
natal Database of The Netherlands during the years 1983-1987, received
their own profiles and were invited to reply. Large differences were
observed for the various characteristics considered. The departments t
hemselves found the information about their values, relative to all ot
her departments, nearly always useful, the response rate being 81%.