Danish Sonographers' Experiences of the Introduction of "Moderate Risk" in Prenatal Screening for Down Syndrome

TY - JOUR

T1 - Danish Sonographers' Experiences of the Introduction of "Moderate Risk" in Prenatal Screening for Down Syndrome

AU - Møller, Anne

AU - Vogel, Ida

AU - Petersen, Olav Bjørn

AU - Lou, Stina

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Objective: The aim of the study was to determine sonographers' experiences with the introduction of an offer of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) to a new moderate-risk (MR) group at the combined first-trimester prenatal screening (cFTS).Study Design: A qualitative approach consisting of seven semistructured interviews with five sonographers (midwives and nurses). Data was analyzed using thematic analysis.Main Outcome Measures: Sonographers' perception of offering NIPT to women in MR.Results: The sonographers understood NIPT as a positive development in prenatal screening due to a safe procedure and high detection rates for trisomies 13, 18, and 21. Prior to the introduction of MR, the sonographers were concerned about inducing worry in pregnant women in this new risk group. However, the pregnant women responded very positively, which the sonographers attributed to several factors such as the women's overall reason for participating in prenatal screening, the simplicity of the NIPT procedure, and the communicative strategies used by the sonographers. The strategies included all sonographers using the same words and explanations, emphasizing that statistics were in the women's favor, initiating the presentation of MR with a positive message, and downplaying the MR category.Conclusion: Sonographers' communicative strategies succeeded in limiting worry in pregnant women in MR. As such, the findings are valuable for health professionals, who are responsible for communicating about prenatal screening results and diagnostic options.

AB - Objective: The aim of the study was to determine sonographers' experiences with the introduction of an offer of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) to a new moderate-risk (MR) group at the combined first-trimester prenatal screening (cFTS).Study Design: A qualitative approach consisting of seven semistructured interviews with five sonographers (midwives and nurses). Data was analyzed using thematic analysis.Main Outcome Measures: Sonographers' perception of offering NIPT to women in MR.Results: The sonographers understood NIPT as a positive development in prenatal screening due to a safe procedure and high detection rates for trisomies 13, 18, and 21. Prior to the introduction of MR, the sonographers were concerned about inducing worry in pregnant women in this new risk group. However, the pregnant women responded very positively, which the sonographers attributed to several factors such as the women's overall reason for participating in prenatal screening, the simplicity of the NIPT procedure, and the communicative strategies used by the sonographers. The strategies included all sonographers using the same words and explanations, emphasizing that statistics were in the women's favor, initiating the presentation of MR with a positive message, and downplaying the MR category.Conclusion: Sonographers' communicative strategies succeeded in limiting worry in pregnant women in MR. As such, the findings are valuable for health professionals, who are responsible for communicating about prenatal screening results and diagnostic options.

KW - Anxiety

KW - Communication

KW - Denmark

KW - Down Syndrome/diagnostic imaging

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Interviews as Topic

KW - Midwifery

KW - Nurse-Patient Relations

KW - Nurses

KW - Patient Participation

KW - Pregnancy/psychology

KW - Pregnancy Trimester, First

KW - Prenatal Diagnosis/psychology

KW - Risk

KW - Ultrasonography

U2 - 10.1155/2018/1646035

DO - 10.1155/2018/1646035

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30402287

SN - 2090-2727

VL - 2018

JO - Journal of Pregnancy

JF - Journal of Pregnancy

M1 - 1646035

ER -