Anxiety levels in women undergoing prenatal maternal serum screening for Down syndrome: the effect of a fast reporting system by mobile phone short-message service.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of fast reporting by mobile phone short-message service (SMS) on anxiety levels in women undergoing prenatal biochemical screening for Down syndrome.


METHODS
From January 2005 to December 2006, 2782 women undergoing prenatal biochemical serum screening were randomized into fast reporting by SMS (group A) or without mobile phone reporting (group B). Anxiety levels were measured with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before prenatal screen testing, before the appointed clinic (when the SMS report had already been given to group A), and 3 days after the appointed clinic (when the full screening report had been given to groups A and B).


RESULTS
For screen-negative women, anxiety scores did not differ between groups before prenatal screen testing and 3 days after the appointed clinic. The state-anxiety scores measured on the second occasion had declined significantly in group A. The state-anxiety scores in both groups increased over the 3-week period after being informed of positive screen results. The trait- and state-anxiety scores at all points did not differ between the two groups of screen-positive women.


CONCLUSIONS
The provision of a routine reporting system plus additional SMS report revealed some overall benefits in reducing anxiety among women with screen-negative result.
Cheng
Po-Jen
PJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan. pjcheng@cgmh.org.tw
Wu
Tzong-Lin
TL
Shaw
Sheng-Wen
SW
Chueh
Ho-Yen
HY
Lin
Cheng-Tao
CT
Hsu
Jenn-Jeih
JJ
Hsieh
T'sang-T'ang
TT
Soong
Yung-Kuei
YK
D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D040421:Cell Phone; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D019114:Remote Consultation; D013997:Time Factors