Women's perception of information and experiences of nuchal translucency screening in Greece

First trimester ultrasound (US) screening has become part of antenatal care. The aim of this study was to explore pregnant women's perceptions of the information given and experiences of first trimester nuchal translucency (NT) screening and to identify the background factors in a woman's biography that influence her information needs and experiences of NT screening.

This study was a descriptive, prospective survey which involved collecting information from the participants by using a questionnaire and took place in a public hospital in Athens. The sample consisted of 510 consecutive, unselected pregnant women of gestational age between 11 and 14 weeks, who had attended a nuchal translucency (NT) screening.

The majority of women felt that they had received either a limited or intermediate amount of information about the US screening and stated that they would have liked to receive more information. However, most of them (98%) answered that their expectations were fulfilled. 82% felt that the US examination was a positive experience, while 16% felt that US examination was a stressful experience. Furthermore, higher rates of positive experiences were observed among women with a higher educational level and greater satisfaction with the information received (chi(2)((d.f.=6)) = 29.411, p = 0.000, chi(2)((d.f.=3)) = 30.171, p = 0.000 respectively). Most women had wished to undertake NT screening to ensure that the fetus was healthy and without any defects and believed that a US examination should be performed at every antenatal visit.

This study shows that most women lack information, specifically about the purposes and the diagnostic limitations of NT screening. Health professionals should therefore dedicate more time to discussing with women, and provide appropriate and understandable information tailored to the educational level of women and should emphasize the indications, purposes and limitations of US screening.