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'It made you think twice' - an interview study of women's perception of a web-based decision aid concerning screening and diagnostic testing for fetal anomalies

Åhman, Annika ; Sarkadi, Anna ; Lindgren, Peter and Rubertsson, Christine LU (2016) In BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 16(1).
Abstract

Background: Enabling women to make informed decisions is a key objective in the guidelines governing prenatal screening and diagnostics. Despite efforts to provide information, research shows that women's choice of prenatal screening is often not based on informed decisions. The aim of this study was to investigate pregnant women's perceptions of the use of an interactive web-based DA, developed to initiate a process of reflection and deliberate decision-making concerning screening and testing for fetal anomalies. Methods: A qualitative study was applied and individual interviews were conducted. Seventeen pregnant women attending antenatal healthcare in Uppsala County, Sweden, who had access to the decision aid were interviewed. Eleven... (More)

Background: Enabling women to make informed decisions is a key objective in the guidelines governing prenatal screening and diagnostics. Despite efforts to provide information, research shows that women's choice of prenatal screening is often not based on informed decisions. The aim of this study was to investigate pregnant women's perceptions of the use of an interactive web-based DA, developed to initiate a process of reflection and deliberate decision-making concerning screening and testing for fetal anomalies. Methods: A qualitative study was applied and individual interviews were conducted. Seventeen pregnant women attending antenatal healthcare in Uppsala County, Sweden, who had access to the decision aid were interviewed. Eleven opted to use the decision aid and six did not. Data were analysed by systematic text condensation. Results: Women appreciated the decision aid, as it was easily accessible moreover, they emphasised the importance of a reliable source. It helped them to clarify their own standpoints and engaged their partner in the decision-making process. Women described the decision aid as enhancing their awareness that participating in prenatal screening and diagnostics was a conscious choice. Those who chose not to use the web-based decision aid when offered reported that they already had sufficient knowledge. Conclusions: The decision aid was able to initiate a process of deliberate decision-making in pregnant women as a result of their interaction with the tool. Access to a web-based decision aid tool can be valuable to expectant parents in making quality decisions regarding screening for fetal anomalies.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Decision aid, Genetic screening, Informed choice, Internet, Pregnancy ultrasound
in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
volume
16
issue
1
article number
267
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • scopus:84987667330
  • pmid:27619366
ISSN
1471-2393
DOI
10.1186/s12884-016-1057-y
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
eb8dc22a-7ede-4f1a-8c58-fe443414d42b
date added to LUP
2017-10-27 13:41:27
date last changed
2024-02-13 09:45:06
@article{eb8dc22a-7ede-4f1a-8c58-fe443414d42b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Enabling women to make informed decisions is a key objective in the guidelines governing prenatal screening and diagnostics. Despite efforts to provide information, research shows that women's choice of prenatal screening is often not based on informed decisions. The aim of this study was to investigate pregnant women's perceptions of the use of an interactive web-based DA, developed to initiate a process of reflection and deliberate decision-making concerning screening and testing for fetal anomalies. Methods: A qualitative study was applied and individual interviews were conducted. Seventeen pregnant women attending antenatal healthcare in Uppsala County, Sweden, who had access to the decision aid were interviewed. Eleven opted to use the decision aid and six did not. Data were analysed by systematic text condensation. Results: Women appreciated the decision aid, as it was easily accessible moreover, they emphasised the importance of a reliable source. It helped them to clarify their own standpoints and engaged their partner in the decision-making process. Women described the decision aid as enhancing their awareness that participating in prenatal screening and diagnostics was a conscious choice. Those who chose not to use the web-based decision aid when offered reported that they already had sufficient knowledge. Conclusions: The decision aid was able to initiate a process of deliberate decision-making in pregnant women as a result of their interaction with the tool. Access to a web-based decision aid tool can be valuable to expectant parents in making quality decisions regarding screening for fetal anomalies.</p>}},
  author       = {{Åhman, Annika and Sarkadi, Anna and Lindgren, Peter and Rubertsson, Christine}},
  issn         = {{1471-2393}},
  keywords     = {{Decision aid; Genetic screening; Informed choice; Internet; Pregnancy ultrasound}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth}},
  title        = {{'It made you think twice' - an interview study of women's perception of a web-based decision aid concerning screening and diagnostic testing for fetal anomalies}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12884-016-1057-y}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12884-016-1057-y}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}