TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceived Value of Prenatal Ultrasound Screening
T2 - A Survey of Pregnant Women
AU - Kelly-Hedrick, Margot
AU - Geller, Gail
AU - Jelin, Angie C.
AU - Gross, Marielle S.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Howard A. Kelly Alumni Society under a 371 grant.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - Introduction: Routine prenatal screening ultrasounds primarily serve to diagnose major fetal anomalies which may prompt further testing and inform clinical decision-making, including possible pregnancy termination. Meanwhile, expectant parents may view the ultrasound experience and information gained differently from their clinicians. In this setting, how to best counsel patients, especially regarding the increasing findings of indeterminant clinical significance, is unclear. Greater understanding of women’s views before undergoing their ultrasound may help to guide anticipatory counseling about the purpose of screening and interpretation of results. Methods: We surveyed 289 patients presenting for scheduled prenatal ultrasounds at an academic tertiary care center. Discrete and open-ended questions assessed views surrounding the receipt of abnormal results and management of the pregnancy once fetal anomalies are detected. Qualitative responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Most (95%) desired information about abnormal sonographic findings, although only half would consider pregnancy termination for anomalies. Reasons for wanting return of abnormal results included preparedness, valuing knowledge, and to a lesser extent, informing decision-making. When considering potential termination as a result of ultrasound findings, participants’ rationales demonstrated deontological (seeing termination as inherently impermissible or permissible), relational (duties arising from the role of being a mother), and consequentialist (weighing harms and benefits) reasoning. Conclusion: This study highlights women’s perceptions of prenatal ultrasounds as an inherently valuable source of information and preparedness, beyond their role in informing clinical decision-making. Identifying the ethical constructs underpinning patients’ perspectives may help direct development of counseling tools responsive to individual needs and values regarding prenatal ultrasound findings.
AB - Introduction: Routine prenatal screening ultrasounds primarily serve to diagnose major fetal anomalies which may prompt further testing and inform clinical decision-making, including possible pregnancy termination. Meanwhile, expectant parents may view the ultrasound experience and information gained differently from their clinicians. In this setting, how to best counsel patients, especially regarding the increasing findings of indeterminant clinical significance, is unclear. Greater understanding of women’s views before undergoing their ultrasound may help to guide anticipatory counseling about the purpose of screening and interpretation of results. Methods: We surveyed 289 patients presenting for scheduled prenatal ultrasounds at an academic tertiary care center. Discrete and open-ended questions assessed views surrounding the receipt of abnormal results and management of the pregnancy once fetal anomalies are detected. Qualitative responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Most (95%) desired information about abnormal sonographic findings, although only half would consider pregnancy termination for anomalies. Reasons for wanting return of abnormal results included preparedness, valuing knowledge, and to a lesser extent, informing decision-making. When considering potential termination as a result of ultrasound findings, participants’ rationales demonstrated deontological (seeing termination as inherently impermissible or permissible), relational (duties arising from the role of being a mother), and consequentialist (weighing harms and benefits) reasoning. Conclusion: This study highlights women’s perceptions of prenatal ultrasounds as an inherently valuable source of information and preparedness, beyond their role in informing clinical decision-making. Identifying the ethical constructs underpinning patients’ perspectives may help direct development of counseling tools responsive to individual needs and values regarding prenatal ultrasound findings.
KW - Abortion
KW - Counseling
KW - Fetal abnormalities
KW - Prenatal
KW - Qualitative
KW - Ultrasound
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U2 - 10.1007/s10995-022-03515-1
DO - 10.1007/s10995-022-03515-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 36352278
AN - SCOPUS:85141608550
SN - 1092-7875
VL - 27
SP - 101
EP - 110
JO - Maternal and child health journal
JF - Maternal and child health journal
IS - 1
ER -