title: Patient preference for self-collected cultures for group B streptococcus in pregnancy.
abstract: To determine pregnant women's preference for self-culture technique, 251 women between 24 and 42 weeks' gestation were interviewed after performing self-collected cultures (vaginal and rectal) for group B streptococcus. Patient receptiveness to self-culture, the ability to perform self-culture, and the desire for choice in the future were derived using the Patient Preference Tool. The majority of women (77%, n = 194) gave positive descriptions of self-culture technique, and the majority of women preferred self-culture technique over nurse-collected sampling (57%, n = 142). Seventy-nine percent (n = 197) stated their desire to have a choice about self-culture in the future when similar testing was needed, and 89% (n = 224) believed that other women would also like this choice. Additionally, patient samples were highly correlated with nurse-collected samples for accuracy of culture results. This study provides data supporting that women desire active participation in their care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fricke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012648:Self Care; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D013714:Tennessee