The health-care experiences of families given the prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 18.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine parent-reported experiences in the health care system after receiving the prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 18 and to identify factors that contribute to satisfaction with care.


METHODS
Nineteen families who received the diagnosis between 2002 and 2005 were given semistructured telephone interviews. Of the 19 families, 11 continued the pregnancy while the remaining 8 chose induced abortion. Classical content analysis was utilized to identify themes among subject responses.


RESULTS
We identified several specific aspects of care as key in either being highly satisfied or dissatisfied: expressions of empathy from provider, continuity of care, communication, valuing the fetus and participation in medical decision-making.


CONCLUSIONS
Aspects of care that were identified as reasons for dissatisfaction are potentially modifiable by training, education or team-based approaches. Further studies are necessary to determine how we can improve the quality of services during prenatal diagnosis.
Walker
L V
LV
Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Miller
V J
VJ
Dalton
V K
VK
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014314:Trisomy / Q000175:diagnosis*