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Three‐dimensional obstetric ultrasound (3DUS) is perceived by lay non‐pregnant adults to be more valuable than two‐dimensional ultrasound (2DUS)
Author(s) -
Hull A. D.,
Pretorius D. H.,
Newton R.,
Asfoor S. A.,
James G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2001.abs20-3.x
Subject(s) - medicine , presentation (obstetrics) , obstetrics , gestation , fetus , ultrasound , fetal position , pregnancy , modalities , radiology , genetics , biology , social science , sociology
Purpose: To determine the impact of 3DUS on non‐pregnant lay adults. Methods: A 15‐minute audiovisual presentation on 3DUS and 2DUS was shown to 120 students It included a brief explanation of the technology and both 2D and 3D images of a normal fetus at 30 weeks gestation. A number of 87 subjects (64 female, 23 male, age 21 ± 0.2 years) completed a self‐administered questionnaire after the presentation. Results: Ninety percent of the subjects had never heard of 3DUS prior to the presentation. All were able to appreciate the difference between 2DUS and 3DUS. Seventy‐eight percent said that they would request 3DUS in a future pregnancy. The commonest reasons given for this choice were better detection of fetal anomalies and visualization of greater anatomical detail compared to 2DUS. Ninety‐four percent of subjects believed that 3DUS was likely to be a significant tool for medical use. Seventy‐five percent of women and 61% of men felt that 3DUS would affect parental fetal attachment. Conclusion: Lay subjects readily appreciate the differences between 2D and 3DUS. Most believed that 3DUS was superior to 2DUS in assessing the fetus, afforded a diagnostic advantage to physicians and would have beneficial effects on parental attachment. These findings have important implications when considering consumer demand for new imaging modalities in obstetrics.