Women’s Experience with Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing and Emotional Well-being and Satisfaction after Test-Results
van Schendel, Rachèl V.; Page-Christiaens, G. C.M.Lieve; Beulen, Lean; Bilardo, Caterina M.; de Boer, Marjon A; Coumans, Audrey B C; Faas, Brigitte H W; van Langen, Irene M.; Lichtenbelt, Klaske D.; van Maarle, Merel C; Macville, Merryn V E; Oepkes, Dick; Pajkrt, Eva; Henneman, Lidewij; for the Dutch NIPT Consortium
(2017) Journal of Genetic Counseling, volume 26, issue 6, pp. 1348 - 1356
(Article)
Abstract
Increasingly, high-risk pregnant women opt for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) instead of invasive diagnostic testing. Since NIPT is less accurate than invasive testing, a normal NIPT result might leave women less reassured. A questionnaire study was performed among pregnant women with elevated risk for fetal aneuploidy based on first-trimester combined
... read more
test (risk ≥1:200) or medical history, who were offered NIPT in the nationwide Dutch TRIDENT study. Pre- and post-test questionnaires (n = 682) included measures on: experiences with NIPT procedure, feelings of reassurance, anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI), child-related anxiety (PRAQ-R), and satisfaction. The majority (96.1%) were glad to have been offered NIPT. Most (68.5%) perceived the waiting time for NIPT results (mean: 15 days, range 5–32) as (much) too long. Most women with a normal NIPT result felt reassured (80.9%) or somewhat reassured (15.7%). Levels of anxiety and child-related anxiety were significantly lower after receiving a normal NIPT result as compared to the moment of intake (p < 0.001). Women with inadequate health literacy or a medical history (e.g. previous child with trisomy) experienced significantly higher post-test-result anxiety (Mean (M) STAI = 31.6 and 30.0, respectively) compared to those with adequate health literacy (M = 28.6) and no medical history (M = 28.6), indicating these women might benefit from extra information and/or guidance when communicating NIPT test-results. Introducing NIPT as an alternative to invasive testing, led to an offer that satisfied and largely reassured high-risk pregnant women.
show less
Download/Full Text
Keywords: Anxiety, NIPT, Non-invasive Prenatal Testing, Prenatal Screening, Reassurance, Satisfaction, Genetics(clinical)
ISSN: 1059-7700
Publisher: Kluwer Academic/Human Sciences Press Inc.
Note: Funding Information: Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank all women who completed the questionnaires. The participating centers are acknowledged for handing out the questionnaires. The authors also like to thank all members of the Dutch NIPT Consortium. This study is supported by a grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw, No. 200340002). The work conducted fulfills in part the PhD degree requirement for Rachèl van Schendel. Funding Information: The authors wish to thank all women who completed the questionnaires. The participating centers are acknowledged for handing out the questionnaires. The authors also like to thank all members of the Dutch NIPT Consortium. This study is supported by a grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw, No. 200340002). The work conducted fulfills in part the PhD degree requirement for Rach?l van Schendel. Lieve Page-Christiaens has been employed as an Associated Medical Director at Illumina Inc. since January, 2016. Dick Oepkes previously participated in clinical research sponsored by Ariosa Diagnostics and Natera Inc. All the other authors declare they have no conflict of interest. Publisher Copyright: © 2017, The Author(s).
(Peer reviewed)