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Perceived risk not actual risk predicts uptake of amniocentesis
Author(s) -
MARTEAU THERESA M.,
KIDD JANE,
COOK RACHEL,
MICHIE SUSAN,
JOHNSTON MARIE,
SLACK JOAN,
SHAW R. W.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1991.tb13394.x
Subject(s) - amniocentesis , risk assessment , risk analysis (engineering) , obstetrics , medicine , environmental health , pregnancy , computer science , prenatal diagnosis , biology , computer security , fetus , genetics
Summary. A consecutive cohort of 71 women eligible for amniocentesis because they were over 38 years of age completed questionnaires during the first trimester of pregnancy. Sixty‐one women underwent amniocentesis, an uptake rate of 86%. Uptake was associated with a less negative attitude towards termination of an affected baby and a higher perceived risk of the fetus being abnormal. It was not associated with actual age‐related risks. There was no significant relation between actual risk and perceived risk. The results of this study suggests that it is important for doctors to understand the basis of women's decisions to have amniocentesis, and the difference between actual and perceived risk if they are to communicate effectively with women about the test and their options.