Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Improving knowledge about prenatal screening options: can group education make a difference?
Dana M Knutzen1, Katie A Stoll, Michael W McClellan
1Madigan Army Medical Center, Department of OB/GYN , Tacoma, WA , USA.
Objective:
To determine if the addition of group education regarding maternal serum screening and diagnostic testing for aneuploidy and neural tube defects improves patient knowledge and affects the uptake of testing compared to individual education alone.
Method:
We conducted a prospective study of 443 obstetric patients to assess knowledge of prenatal testing options based on individual provider counseling (n = 331) or provider counseling with supplemental group education (n = 112). We used a chi-square test to compare the number of correct survey answers between the two groups.
Results:
There was no difference in baseline knowledge. Patients receiving group education showed a statistically significant improvement in knowledge. After initiation of group education, the uptake of maternal serum screening declined while the uptake of amniocentesis remained unchanged.
Conclusion:
Group education in addition to individual counseling to discuss prenatal testing options appears to be effective in improving knowledge compared to individual provider counseling alone. Improved knowledge may affect uptake of prenatal screening tests due to more informed decision making.
Related Concept Videos
Preventive Healthcare Services
Self-Help Support Groups
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...
Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Regression Toward the Mean
Blind Procedures

