Online health information on induction of labour: A systematic review and quality assessment study.

OBJECTIVES: Many women will seek information online about induction of labour. However, the quality of the available information varies greatly and there are no regulations regarding the content that is published. Our objective was to systematically evaluate the quality of online health information on induction of labour. STUDY DESIGN: We established a bespoke search strategy with our public and patient representative using common induction of labour search terms. In January 2021 we used the metasearch engines Dogpile, Duckduckgo and Ecosia to identify relevant websites and additional searches were undertaken using different google platforms. We included all open access websites in English which provided specific advice to women on induction of labour. We assessed the quality of the websites for their credibility, accuracy, readability, and content quality in duplicate. The websites were compared according to their source of funding, target user and whether they were pregnancy specific websites or generic. There was no funding for this project. RESULTS: We screened 2875 websites from the searches. 221 websites were included out of which only 45 (20%) were pregnancy specific and 109 (50%) had governmental funding. Generic websites had higher credibility (median 6.0 vs 5.5; p = 0.031), accuracy (median 10.75 vs 9.5; p = 0.042) and quality scores (median 45.0 vs 40.0; p = 0.036) than pregnancy specific ones. Those with governmental funding had higher quality scores than commercially funded ones for credibility (median 6.5 vs 5.5; p = 0.002), accuracy (median 13.5 vs 9.0; p < 0.000), readability (72.2 vs 61.2; p = 0.001) and quality (51.0 vs 38.5; p=<0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The quality of online health information on induction of labour is varied. Governmental websites seem to offer better quality information to pregnant women awaiting induction of labour.

Induction of labour for predicted macrosomia: study protocol for the 'Big Baby' randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Large-for-gestational age (LGA) fetuses have an increased risk of shoulder dystocia. This can lead to adverse neonatal outcomes and death. Early induction of labour in women with a fetus suspected to be macrosomic may mitigate the risk of shoulder dystocia. The Big Baby Trial aims to find if induction of labour at 38+0-38+4 weeks' gestation, in pregnancies with suspected LGA fetuses, reduces the incidence of shoulder dystocia. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Big Baby Trial is a multicentre, prospective, individually randomised controlled trial of induction of labour at 38+0 to 38+4 weeks' gestation vs standard care as per each hospital trust (median gestation of delivery 39+4) among women whose fetuses have an estimated fetal weight >90th customised centile according to ultrasound scan at 35+0 to 38+0 weeks' gestation. There is a parallel cohort study for women who decline randomisation because they opt for induction, expectant management or caesarean section. Up to 4000 women will be recruited and randomised to induction of labour or to standard care. The primary outcome is the incidence of shoulder dystocia; assessed by an independent expert group, blind to treatment allocation, from delivery records. Secondary outcomes include birth trauma, fractures, haemorrhage, caesarean section rate and length of inpatient stay. The main trial is ongoing, following an internal pilot study. A qualitative reporting, health economic evaluation and parallel process evaluation are included. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study received a favourable opinion from the South West-Cornwall and Plymouth Health Research Authority on 23/03/2018 (IRAS project ID 229163). Study results will be reported in the National Institute for Health Research journal library and published in an open access peer-reviewed journal. We will plan dissemination events for key stakeholders. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN18229892.