Informed consent: providing information about prenatal examinations.

Background. Choice in prenatal care has moved on from a paternalistic approach, to increased patient autonomy and informed decision-making. This review summarises the existing literature on the information of pregnant women about prenatal examinations. The extent to which information about Down syndrome and screening tests empowers informed decision-making are investigated, as are different ways of expressing a risk estimate. Results. Knowledge scores can be improved and decisional conflict reduced by group counselling, individual sessions, and by use of leaflets. None of the interventions leads to a raise in anxiety scores or influence uptake rates. Satisfaction with information provided was found unrelated to level of knowledge, but associated with having expectations for information met. Information on Down syndrome is missing (13–21%), or restricted (13%), limitations of screenings tests rarely mentioned, and written materials often insufficient. Women experience risk expressed as proportions or relat...