title: Changing to NIPT as a first-tier screening test and future perspectives: opinions of health professionals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate health professionals' opinions toward offering noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) as first-tier screening test regardless of pregnant women's risk, and toward a potential broader range of disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire completed by obstetric health professionals (n = 240) after an in-service NIPT training in the West and North of the Netherlands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (72%) of respondents favored replacing first-trimester combined test (FCT) by NIPT, although 43% preferred to maintain nuchal translucency measurement. Many respondents believed that replacing FCT by NIPT would only have advantages (57%), would lead to more pregnant women opting for prenatal testing (69%), and would simplify counseling (47%). Differences in attitudes toward counseling between health professionals were observed. When considering NIPT to screen for broader range of disorders, the majority (92%) thought that this should include disorders characterized by neonatal death, whereas 52% of the respondents favored testing for fetomaternal risk factors. Overall, 46% thought screening should be offered as a fixed list of disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most health professionals favor NIPT instead of FCT but prefer to maintain nuchal translucency measurement. If NIPT becomes available as a first-tier screening test, attention remains necessary to ensure that pregnant women make well-informed decisions in line with the aim of prenatal screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamminga
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rachèl V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: van Schendel
authors.affiliation: Department of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wieke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rommers
authors.affiliation: Department of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Caterina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bilardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fetal Medicine Unit, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pajkrt
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Ethics and Society, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Research Institutes GROW and CAPHRI, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wybo J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Dondorp
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Merel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Maarle
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martina C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cornel
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lidewij
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Henneman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult