Predictors of patient misperception of the diagnostic sensitivity of second trimester ultrasound

SECOND TRIMESTER ULTRASOUND JUSTIN COLLINGHAM, WILLIAM GROBMAN, STACEY PLAGA, Stanford University, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford, California, Northwestern University, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago, Illinois, Northwestern University, Reproductive Genetics, Chicago, Illinois OBJECTIVE: To determine what factors are associated with patient misperception of the diagnostic sensitivity of second trimester ultrasound (US). STUDY DESIGN: Women presenting for routine second trimester US were asked to complete a questionnaire. Information collected included demographic characteristics, answers to questions regarding the diagnostic sensitivity of US, and the sources of information used by patients to prepare for their US. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to assess the factors associated with patient misperception of the diagnostic sensitivity of US, defined to occur when a patient believed that US would detect all chromosomal or anatomic abnormalities. RESULTS: Of the 150 women approached for the study, 5 declined enrollment. Of the remaining 145, 47% misperceived the diagnostic sensitivity of US. Univariable analysis revealed the following factors to be more frequently associated with this misperception: younger maternal age, greater GA at US, non-Caucasian ethnicity, less education, lower annual income and the primary use of interpersonal relations (e.g., significant other, friends) to gather information about US. In logistic regression, variables that remained independently associated with misperception are presented in the table below. CONCLUSION: Almost half of patients undergoing routine second trimester US misperceive its diagnostic sensitivity. Receiving an US at a later gestational age, exposure to lesser education and gathering information about US primarily from interpersonal sources were factors independently associated with this misperception.