Sources and Level of Patient Knowledge Regarding Available Prenatal Diagnostic Methods and the Frequency of Their Use in the Polish Population

<b>Introduction:</b> The scope and accessibility of prenatal testing have significantly expanded in recent years, reaching a broader population of pregnant women. Advances in non-invasive diagnostic methods support informed decision-making and help reduce the need for invasive procedures. <b>Objective:</b> The objective was to evaluate pregnant women's knowledge regarding prenatal testing and assess the quality of information provided by healthcare professionals, including the frequency of screening and invasive procedures. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A total of 310 obstetric patients from maternity wards in two hospitals in northern Poland completed a survey addressing prenatal tests, sources of information, and the quality of guidance received from medical staff. <b>Results:</b> Nearly 75% of respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge of the purpose, indications, and scope of prenatal testing. Physicians were identified as the primary source of information. Approximately 50% correctly indicated the recommended number of ultrasound examinations during pregnancy. No correlation was observed between knowledge of prenatal testing and a history of delivering a child with health complications. The combined first-trimester test was performed in 48.6% of cases, NIPT in 11.6%, and invasive testing in 1.8% of the study group. <b>Conclusions:</b> Public awareness of prenatal testing in Poland remains insufficient. With the introduction of partially reimbursed tests in 2024, we recommend strengthening educational efforts through social campaigns and targeted training for healthcare professionals.

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Publication Details

Journal
Healthcare
Published
2025-12-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13233168
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.49
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article

Sources and Level of Patient Knowledge Regarding Available Prenatal Diagnostic Methods and the Frequency of Their Use in the Polish Population

Magdalena Tworkiewicz, Małgorzata Świątkowska-Freund, Adam Kosiński, Szymon Bednarek
1 citations
Healthcare
Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics
3.49
article

Sources and Level of Patient Knowledge Regarding Available Prenatal Diagnostic Methods and the Frequency of Their Use in the Polish Population

Magdalena Tworkiewicz, Małgorzata Świątkowska-Freund, Adam Kosiński, Szymon Bednarek
article en
1 citations

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> The scope and accessibility of prenatal testing have significantly expanded in recent years, reaching a broader population of pregnant women. Advances in non-invasive diagnostic methods support informed decision-making and help reduce the need for invasive procedures. <b>Objective:</b> The objective was to evaluate pregnant women's knowledge regarding prenatal testing and assess the quality of information provided by healthcare professionals, including the frequency of screening and invasive procedures. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A total of 310 obstetric patients from maternity wards in two hospitals in northern Poland completed a survey addressing prenatal tests, sources of information, and the quality of guidance received from medical staff. <b>Results:</b> Nearly 75% of respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge of the purpose, indications, and scope of prenatal testing. Physicians were identified as the primary source of information. Approximately 50% correctly indicated the recommended number of ultrasound examinations during pregnancy. No correlation was observed between knowledge of prenatal testing and a history of delivering a child with health complications. The combined first-trimester test was performed in 48.6% of cases, NIPT in 11.6%, and invasive testing in 1.8% of the study group. <b>Conclusions:</b> Public awareness of prenatal testing in Poland remains insufficient. With the introduction of partially reimbursed tests in 2024, we recommend strengthening educational efforts through social campaigns and targeted training for healthcare professionals.

HealthcareVol. 13(23)
State University of Applied Sciences in Elbląg (PL), Provincial Polyclinical Hospital in Toruń (PL)
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics
3.49
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