Journal of Genetic Medicine

Korean Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics (대한의학유전학회)
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Korean physicians' attitudes toward the prenatal screening for fetal aneuploidy and implementation of non-invasive prenatal testing with cell-free fetal DNA

  • Kim, Soo Hyun (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Kun Woo (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamchoon Women's Clinic) ;
  • Han, You Jung (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Seung Mi (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Mi-Young (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Shim, Jae-Yoon (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Cho, Geum Joon (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University Guro Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Joon Ho (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System) ;
  • Oh, Soo-young (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Kwon, Han-Sung (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine) ;
  • Cha, Dong Hyun (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine) ;
  • Ryu, Hyun Mee (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2018.11.02
  • Accepted : 2018.12.13
  • Published : 2018.12.31
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Abstract

Purpose: Physicians' attitudes may have a strong influence on women's decision regarding prenatal screening options. The aim of this study is to assess the physicians' attitudes toward prenatal screening for fetal aneuploidy including non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in South Korea. Materials and Methods: Questionnaires were distributed and collected at several obstetrics-gynecological conferences and meetings. The questionnaire included 31 multiple choice and 5 fill-in-the-blank questions. Seven questions requested physicians' demographic information, 17 questions requested information about the NIPT with cell-free fetal DNA, and 12 questions requested information about general prenatal screening practices. Results: Of the 203 obstetricians that completed the survey. In contrast with professional guidelines recommending the universal offering of aneuploidy screening, only 53.7% answered that prenatal aneuploidy testing (screening and/or invasive diagnostic testing) should be offered to all pregnant women. Physicians tended to have positive attitudes toward the clinical application of NIPT as both primary and secondary screening methods for patients at high-risk for fetal trisomy. However, for patients at average-risk for fetal trisomy, physicians tended to have positive attitudes only as a secondary screening method. Physicians with more knowledge about NIPT were found to tend to inform their patients that the detection rate of NIPT is higher. Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate expert opinion on prenatal screening in South Korea. Education of physicians is essential to ensure responsible patient counseling, informed consent, and appropriate management after NIPT.

Keywords

References

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