title: Patient acceptance of prenatal alpha-fetoprotein screening: a preliminary study.
abstract: Forty-five obstetrical patients who received an educational session about maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening were followed until the 20th to 26th week of gestation to determine what percentage would decide to have MSAFP testing. These patients were then given a knowledge test and questioned about the factors that led to their decision about the test. Fourteen of the 45 study patients (31%) elected to have MSAFP testing. The patient's decision to have MSAFP testing was found to be significantly associated with 1) reporting a longer length of time discussing the test with the physician, 2) reporting that the opinion of a significant other about the test was important, and 3) older age. There is a need for further study of patients' acceptance of MSAFP testing to see if the relatively low acceptance rate found in this study is also found in other practices.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin, Dept. of Family Medicine and Practice.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sikkink
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins