The study aimed to determine sonographers’ experiences with introducing an offer of NIPT to a new MR group at the cFTS.
The present study used a qualitative approach consisting of seven semistructured interviews with five sonographers. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
The sonographers understood NIPT as a positive development in prenatal screening due to a safe procedure and high detection rates for trisomies 13, 18, and 21. Before introducing MR, the sonographers were concerned about inducing worry in pregnant women in this new risk group. However, the pregnant women responded positively, which the sonographers attributed to several factors such as the women’s overall reason for participating in prenatal screening, the simplicity of the NIPT procedure, and the sonographers’ communicative strategies. The strategy included all sonographers using the same words and explanations, emphasizing that statistics were in the women’s favor, initiating MR’s presentation with a positive message, and downplaying the MR category.
Sonographers’ communicative strategies succeeded in limiting worry in pregnant women in MR. As such, the findings are valuable for health professionals, who are responsible for communicating about prenatal screening results and diagnostic options.
Reference: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jp/2018/1646035/
