Psychological responses to prenatal NTS counseling and the uptake of invasive testing in women of advanced maternal age

Patient Educ Couns. 2004 Jul;54(1):45-53. doi: 10.1016/S0738-3991(03)00190-3.

Abstract

This study examines women's psychological responses to prenatal group genetic counseling, and to subsequent individualized risk counseling. All women (N=123) aged 35 and older underwent nuchal translucency screening (NTS), a prenatal ultrasound screening test. After group counseling, decisional conflict decreased significantly among those reporting at baseline having made a decision about invasive testing (t(222)=2.0, P=0.014) and for those who were uncertain (t(222)=5.74, P <0.0005). After receiving NT-adjusted risks, decisional conflict decreased further for those uncertain about testing at baseline (t(222)=4.64, P <0.0005). There was no change in risk perception and anxiety after group counseling. After NT-adjusted risks were communicated, risk perception decreased significantly (t(230)=5.02, P <0.0005), as did anxiety (t(115)=7.91, P <0.005). Despite reassuring NTS results, the uptake rate for prenatal invasive testing was 78.4%. Risk perception, anxiety, and decisional conflict decreased after individual counseling for reassuring NTS results, but the uptake of invasive testing remained high.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Conflict, Psychological
  • Decision Making
  • Educational Status
  • Feedback, Psychological
  • Female
  • Genetic Counseling* / methods
  • Genetic Counseling* / psychology
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Maternal Age*
  • Mothers* / education
  • Mothers* / psychology
  • Ontario
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, High-Risk*
  • Program Evaluation
  • Risk Assessment
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal / psychology*
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal / statistics & numerical data