Decision outcomes in women offered noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT) for positive Down screening results

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2019 Jan;32(2):348-350. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2017.1378323. Epub 2017 Sep 19.

Abstract

In this first Asian study, the decision outcomes (decision conflict, decision regret, and anxiety) of 262 pregnant women offered noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT) for high-risk Down screening results were assessed. Decision conflict was experienced by 3.5% and level of decisional regret low (mean score 15.7, 95%CI 13.2-18.3). All 13 cases of decisional regret were NIPT acceptors. Elevated anxiety was experienced by 55.9% at the time of decision making about NIPT and persistent in 30.3%. Insufficient knowledge about NIPT was associated with elevated anxiety at decision making (p = .011) and with decisional regret (p = .016). Decisional regret was associated with prolonged anxiety (p = .010).

Keywords: Down syndrome; Non-invasive prenatal test; anxiety; decision conflict; decision regret; screening.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Induced / psychology
  • Abortion, Induced / statistics & numerical data
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Conflict, Psychological
  • Decision Making / physiology*
  • Down Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Emotions
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Maternal Serum Screening Tests / methods
  • Maternal Serum Screening Tests / psychology
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods*
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires