title: Attitudes toward non-invasive prenatal diagnosis among pregnant women and health professionals in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to assess the attitudes toward non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) and NIPD problems in clinical practice in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mail-in survey using a self-reported questionnaire was conducted among pregnant women and health professionals. The questionnaire enquired about attitudes, concerns, and expectations regarding NIPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The responses from 252 respondents revealed that pregnant women have more positive attitudes toward NIPD than health professionals. In addition, there were wide discrepancies in concerns and expectations about NIPD, between medical professionals and pregnant women. The respondents with less NIPD knowledge had a more positive attitude toward the clinical application of NIPD. There was concern expressed by clinical geneticists whether an NIPD test should be performed or not when there is a lack of knowledge about the NIPD. All of the health professionals emphasized the importance of providing genetic counseling prior to and after the testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnant women place importance on the safety and non-invasiveness of the NIPD tests, whereas medical professionals consider the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of the test to be the most important. Health professionals pointed out that the tests might be frequently performed without the pregnant women having adequate knowledge or counseling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yotsumoto
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sekizawa
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.forename: Yuditiya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Purwosunu
authors.forename: Kiyotake
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ichizuka
authors.forename: Ryu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawame
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D009774:Obstetrics; D010372:Pediatrics; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires