title: The over-estimation of risk in pregnancy.
abstract: The concept of risk is especially salient to obstetric care. Unknown factors can still be responsible for peri-natal morbidity and mortality in circumstances that appeared to present little risk, while perfectly healthy infants are born in high-risk circumstances: a contradiction that patients and providers struggle with on a daily basis. With such contradictions comes the potential for the over-estimation of risk during pregnancy in order to assure a positive outcome. Understanding and addressing the estimation of risk during pregnancy requires acknowledging the history of obstetric risk in addition to understanding risk-related psychological theory. A relationship of trust between provider and patient is vital in addressing risk over-estimation, as is encouraging the development of self-efficacy in patients. Ultimately obstetric care is complex and efforts to avoid pre-natal risk exposure based on heightened perceptions of threat may do more harm than the perceived threat itself.
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. moniquer@ichr.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pennell
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: Wendy H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Oddy
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Newnham
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*