Beratung zu Pränataldiagnostik - Einstellungen und Haltungen von ärztlichen und psychosozialen Fachkräften

BACKGROUND: Medical and psychosocial experts have different attitudes to prenatal diagnostics (PND), most of all with respect to the question of indications and counselling. However, various professional associations and political decision-makers are demanding a greater degree of cooperation between medical and psychosocial specialists. Up to now, however, such a cooperation barely exists. There are only a few places in Germany where cooperation between the two professional groups is actively promoted. No quantitative data is available on the real extent of the difference in attitudes between the two professional groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Within the framework of a model project, a cooperation between medical and psychosocial counselling specialists with regard to prenatal diagnostics was promoted by means of “interprofessional quality circles”. Projects were carried out in the German cities of Augsburg, Erfurt, Heidelberg, Freiburg, Mannheim and Schwerin. A total of 62 persons continuously attended these quality circles over a period of 18 months and took part in the pre/post questioning into the differences in attitudes. RESULTS: Despite different attitudes and sometimes quite controversial discussions, work in the quality circles was felt to be conducive to cooperation and useful for everyday counselling. It was found that different attitudes to PND were not an impediment but constitutive with respect to cooperation. Interprofessional quality circles obviously represent an adequate platform to promote cooperation.