Psychological correlates of decision-making during prenatal diagnosis: a prospective study

Brondino, Natascia; Colombini, Gabriele; Morandotti, Niccolò; Podavini, Francesca; Vidovich, G. De; Formica, Manuela; Arossa, Alessia; Silvestri, Annalisa De; Montanari, Laura; Caverzasi, Edgardo

doi:10.3109/0167482x.2013.797404

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Prenatal screening is now widely available to all women regardless of age. Given the potential benefits and limitations of prenatal screening with follow up diagnostic testing, it is imperative that women make an informed choice. Although pregnant women feel primarily responsible for decisions about prenatal testing, with input from their partners, studies still show a lack of consistency in information provided, inequality of access to information, unmet support and information needs, and limited knowledge of prenatal testing technologies among pregnant women …”

Section: Format Preferences For Receiving Information Regarding Prenamentioning

confidence: 99%

How do prospective parents prefer to receive information about prenatal screening and diagnostic testing?

et al. 2014

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Prenatal screening is now widely available to all women regardless of age. Given the potential benefits and limitations of prenatal screening with follow up diagnostic testing, 1,2 it is imperative that women make an informed choice. Although pregnant women feel primarily responsible for decisions about prenatal testing, with input from their partners, 3 studies still show a lack of consistency in information provided, 4 inequality of access to information, 5 unmet support and information needs, and limited knowledge of prenatal testing technologies among pregnant women. 6 Face-to-face delivery has traditionally been the preferred method of information delivery among prospective parents, with paper-based information also popular. 3-5 However, options for information delivery are now much broader because of increased online access of health-related information and willingness of patients to access services, networking, and support online. 2,7 Because the last study comparing preferences for receiving prenatal testing information was published close to a decade ago, 3 and there is a shortage of studies addressing the information needs and preferences of the couple as a unit and partners specifically, 8 an updated view is required.This study aims to provide an up-to-date assessment of prospective parents' preferences for receiving information about prenatal testing and examine whether information needs are currently being met.Pregnant women and their partners were recruited from a tertiary level public hospital and a private hospital in Melbourne, Australia, between December 2012 and April 2013. Couples were approached when attending the hospital for either the glucose challenge test or childbirth education classes (women approached were 24-35 weeks gestation).Couples were eligible if they were 18 years or older and proficient in English.Women and their partners were either given a hard copy study pack (consent form, participant information sheet, and questionnaire), or provided their email address to receive electronic copies. Women attending alone were given a study pack for their partners or asked to forward the electronic version to their partner.The purposively designed questionnaire collected demographic information (age, marital status, education level, private health insurance status, number of children, whether this was their first pregnancy, and language spoken at home). Women were asked about prenatal screening and diagnostic testing in the current and/or previous pregnancies. Functional health literacy was assessed using a single item 'How confident are you filling out medical forms by yourself '. 9 Participants were asked to indicate whether they perceived prenatal testing to be a part of routine care or a choice, whether they had received information regarding prenatal testing (including the format and from whom), how easy information was to understand, whether the amount of information was appropriate and their preferred information format. Participants were asked whether they had actively sought su...

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Section: Format Preferences For Receiving Information Regarding Prenamentioning

confidence: 99%

How do prospective parents prefer to receive information about prenatal screening and diagnostic testing?

et al. 2014

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“…Distinct from transient anxiety about the decision to undergo prenatal testing, psychological distress often follows the receipt of results indicating that a fetus has a genetic condition. Women with a fetus found to be developing atypically and their partners face one of the most difficult decisions of their lives . Decision science has identified the characteristics of the most challenging decisions: those that are unfamiliar, have uncertain but potentially significant consequences, and are under tight time constraints.…”

Section: When the Fetus Is Affectedmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Women with a fetus found to be developing atypically and their partners face one of the most difficult decisions of their lives. 20 Decision science has identified the characteristics of the most challenging decisions: those that are unfamiliar, have uncertain but potentially significant consequences, and are under tight time constraints. This description fits the situation of learning that one's fetus is affected with a chromosomal condition.…”

Section: Prenatal Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Psychological Well‐being of Pregnant Women Undergoing Prenatal Testing and Screening: A Narrative Literature Review

Biesecker¹

2019

Hastings Center Report

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Prenatal screening and testing are preference‐based health care options. They are offered so that pregnant women and their partners can learn genetic information about the developing fetus. In this literature review, I summarize studies of women’s and their partners’ psychological responses to prenatal testing and screening. These studies investigate the experiences of pregnant women, largely in the United States, who have access to health care services. Although the results indicate that these women are receptive to prenatal testing and screening and seem to have limited negative psychological consequences, pregnant women without access to these services are not represented and may have different experiences. With that caveat in mind, based on the evidence, women generally do well psychologically as they manage the options that arise for them in the prenatal context.

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“…The care of a woman who has been diagnosed to be carrying an abnormal fetus should be multidisciplinary [6,7]. The care is often complex, not only physically but also psychologically.…”

Section: Main Documentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is compounded by the necessity to make difficult decisions within a limited time span. The couple in this predicament require multidisciplinary care and support during this difficult time [6].…”

Section: Main Documentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxiety Associated with Prenatal Diagnosis

Kowalcek¹

2017

J Gyn Obs Bul

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The availability of non-invasive prenatal diagnostic procedures such as sonography appears to have led to a higher rate of acceptance of such procedures, especially in younger patients. The expectations of pregnant women and their partners concerning prenatal diagnosis focus on reducing uncertainty in regards to the normality of the pregnancy. However, any prenatal diagnosis procedure can cause emotional stress in the pregnant woman. There two different types of stress in this situation. There may be anxiety about the invasive nature of the procedure and the attendant risk of the loss of a wanted pregnancy. Separately, there may be anxiety over the outcome of the investigation. Any unexpected finding, especially an abnormal one, often has an adverse impact on the pregnant woman and her partner. With the advent of this now commonly shared experience, the male partner also gives up his role as a passive onlooker and becomes more actively involved in the pregnancy. Couples require multidisciplinary care if an abnormal foetus is diagnosis.

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Psychological correlates of decision-making during prenatal diagnosis: a prospective study

Cited by 15 publications

References 45 publications

How do prospective parents prefer to receive information about prenatal screening and diagnostic testing?

How do prospective parents prefer to receive information about prenatal screening and diagnostic testing?

The Psychological Well‐being of Pregnant Women Undergoing Prenatal Testing and Screening: A Narrative Literature Review

Anxiety Associated with Prenatal Diagnosis

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