title: Maternal serum screening: results disclosure, anxiety, and risk perception.
abstract: Although increased maternal anxiety following the disclosure of positive second-trimester maternal serum screen (MSS) results has been well documented, how this anxiety correlates with the method of results disclosure has not been well defined. This pilot study aimed to determine how abnormal second-trimester MSS results are disclosed, the level of anxiety experienced by women as a result of this disclosure, and the accuracy of their risk perception. Women referred for prenatal genetic counseling were asked to complete a questionnaire including demographics, standardized Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, results disclosure information, and perceived risk. Of the 561 questionnaires distributed, 388 (69.2%) women chose to participate. Of the 136 participants referred for an abnormal MSS, 125 (91.9%) were aware of this indication and elected to complete the results disclosure portion of the questionnaire. The average anxiety level was not significantly different based on the method of results disclosure or who reported the results. We did not identify a definite cause for the anxiety experienced by women receiving abnormal MSS results; however, this study illustrates the need for further research to identify factors that contribute to the elevated anxiety experienced by these women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. Jennifer.L.Sherrill@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Czerwinski
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wicklund
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hoskovec
authors.forename: Terri M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kerrigan
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mastrobattista
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000523:psychology; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers