Doctors' attitudes towards invasive prenatal diagnosis

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Reproductive Health
• Medical Education

Background:

• Invasive prenatal diagnosis (PND) is a critical tool in managing high-risk pregnancies.
• Understanding healthcare providers' perspectives on PND is crucial for informed patient counseling and ethical practice.
• Factors such as demographics and knowledge may shape attitudes toward PND and subsequent reproductive decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how physician demographics (gender, age, religion) and knowledge of invasive PND affect their attitudes.
• To determine the influence of these factors on recommendations for invasive PND.
• To explore attitudes towards pregnancy termination in cases of detected fetal anomalies.

Main Methods:

• A structured questionnaire was administered to non-obstetric and gynecologic doctors.
• The survey collected data on demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with invasive PND.
• Respondents provided information regarding their views on PND for themselves, family, and patients.

Main Results:

• A majority of the 289 respondents had limited knowledge of invasive PND.
• No significant differences were found in recommendations for invasive PND based on gender, age, religion, or PND knowledge.
• Females (Buddhist group), males with extensive PND knowledge, and younger doctors were more likely to opt for pregnancy termination if fetal anomalies were detected.

Conclusions:

• Physician gender, age, religion, and PND knowledge significantly influence attitudes toward invasive PND and pregnancy termination.
• Female and younger physicians, irrespective of gender, showed a greater tendency to recommend termination for fetal anomalies.
• These findings highlight the need for comprehensive PND education and ethical training for healthcare professionals.