Informed choice has become an integral part of healthcare provision. These authors from multiple European countries investigated the extent to which informed choice in the context of prenatal testing is universally valued. They surveyed male and female participants from general population samples in six countries: the UK (n = 210), the Netherlands (n = 197), Italy (n = 200), Greece (n = 200), China (n = 200) and India (n = 199). The questionnaires assessed values attached to parental involvement and the perceived importance of the views of significant others when making prenatal test decisions.
They found: "The majority of respondents from Northern European countries believed that undergoing prenatal tests should reflect parental choice. Conversely, only a minority of respondents from Southern European and Asian countries advocated parental choice, with most expressing the belief that all pregnant women should have the procedure. The perceived importance of significant others views when making test decisions also varied across countries. Those in favour of parental choice perceived others views as less important in the test decision. A preference for prenatal testing decisions to reflect an informed choice was predicted by (i) country and (ii) the perceived importance of significant others views. Education, age and gender did not predict decisions."
The authors concluded: "The implications of these findings for policy and practice depend upon whether placing a low value on parental choice, but a high value on the others views regarding prenatal testing is considered an informed choice. Further research is needed to determine whether cultural variation in values remains significant in a multicultural society."
This study demonstrates that cultural context is important in medical decision making, and values should not be universally assumed.
For the full abstract, click here.
BJOG 116(7):880 - 885, June 2009 © 2009 to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Is informed choice in prenatal testing universally valued? A population-based survey in Europe and Asia. A van den Heuvel, L Chitty, E Dormandy et al. Correspondence to: Dr. Attwood: sophie.attwood@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Category: HSR. Health Services Research, W. Pregnancy, Family Planning. Keywords: cultural diversity, informed choice, prenatal diagnosis, values, cross-sectional study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 4 June 2009
