title: Risks, trust and knowledge: determinants of pregnant women's decisions regarding participation in a future Q fever screening and treatment program during a large epidemic in The Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Contracting Q fever during pregnancy carries a risk of developing obstetric complications. The aim of this study was to gain insight into pregnant women's decisions regarding participation in a future Q fever screening and treatment program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women (N = 148) in Q fever high-risk areas in The Netherlands were recruited via midwives' practices and via an online panel for a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. The outcome measures included intention to participate in the program, Q fever exposure risk, perceived Q fever risk, trust in health professionals and authorities, disease-related knowledge and additional outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six percent of the respondents intended to participate in the screening and treatment program. The sole determinant of a higher intended program uptake was a more positive appraisal of program efficacy and convenience. This appraisal was in turn associated with perceived risk and knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women's appraisal of program efficacy and convenience, their disease-related knowledge and perceived Q fever risk seem to be crucial for their intended program uptake. A successful implementation of a Q fever screening and treatment program may thus depend on the benefits and downsides of the program, and on securing that women are aware of the risks of the disease.
authors: Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors: Janna Klein
authors: JK
authors: Breteler
authors: Jurriaan P
authors: JP
authors: Oudhoff
authors: Janna M
authors: JM
authors: Munster
authors: Jan G
authors: JG
authors: Aarnoudse
authors: Jim E
authors: JE
authors: van Steenbergen
authors: Desirée J M A
authors: DJ
authors: Beaujean
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D058872:Epidemics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy