What women want: lead considerations for current and future applications of noninvasive prenatal testing in prenatal care.
BACKGROUND
Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) will change the delivery of prenatal care for all women, including those considered low risk for fetal chromosomal abnormalities. This study investigated pregnant women's attitudes, informational needs, and decision-making preferences with respect to current and future applications of NIPT.


METHODS
A survey instrument was used to identify aspects of the decision-making process for NIPT among low-risk and high-risk populations.


RESULTS
Both low-risk and high-risk women (n = 334) expressed interest in incorporating NIPT as a screening test into their prenatal care. Information specific to NIPT's detection rate (86%), indications (77%), and performance in comparison with conventional screens and diagnostic tests (63%) were identified as lead factors when considering its use. The future availability of NIPT as a diagnostic test increased women's willingness to undergo testing for fetal aneuploidy, cancer susceptibility, and childhood-onset and adult-onset diseases. Despite its noninvasive aspects, participants expressed the need for a formal informed consent process (71%) to take place before testing.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that NIPT will introduce new challenges for pregnant women and their health care practitioners who will be charged with supporting informed decision making about its use. It is critical that obstetric professionals are prepared to facilitate a patient-centered decision-making process as its clinical application rapidly changes.
Department of Bioethics, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Ruth M
RM
Farrell
Patricia K
PK
Agatisa
Benjamin
B
Nutter
D000328:Adult; D000782:Aneuploidy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000639:trends*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000639:trends*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
informed consent; maternal decision making; prenatal genetic testing