ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare group counselling to individual counselling with respect to the second trimester ultrasound. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study at two hospitals. METHOD: At one hospital, 100 pregnant women were counselled on the risks and benefits of the second trimester ultrasound in groups of up to 15 patients. Shortly before the ultrasound they were asked to fill out a questionnaire. Results were compared to 100 women who were counselled individually at another hospital. The primary outcome was the level of informed choice whether or not to undergo the ultrasound, defined as sufficient knowledge and a value-consistent decision. The secondary outcome measures were level of understanding of the second trimester ultrasound and the degree of satisfaction with the counselling. RESULTS: The resulting level of informed choice was 87.0% after group counselling compared to 79.4% after individual counselling (p = 0.47). The mean knowledge score was 8.8 for the women who attended group counselling; women who were individually counselled had a mean score of 7.4 (p < 0.001). Satisfaction with counselling was 7.0 for group counselling and 6.2 for individual counselling (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although there was no statistically significant difference in the level of informed choice, group counselling was associated with higher post-counselling knowledge and satisfaction scores. Group counselling should therefore be considered as an alternative counselling method.
Subject(s)
Counseling/methods , Decision Making , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Patient Satisfaction , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Ultrasonography, Prenatal , Adult , Age Factors , Choice Behavior , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Parity , Pregnancy , Pregnant Women/psychology , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Ultrasonography, Prenatal/psychology , Ultrasonography, Prenatal/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether children with prenatally diagnosed mild pyelectasis have more urinary tract morbidity during childhood than children without this finding. METHODS: Case-control study in children with pyelectasis (anteroposterior diameter of the fetal renal pelvis of 5-10 mm). A validated questionnaire was sent to the parents of 208 cases and 416 matched controls. RESULTS: The questionnaire was returned by 146 cases and 250 controls. There was a male predominance in the case group (p = < 0.0001). There was no difference in voiding habits or in prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTI). The prevalence of UTI was high: 11.6% in cases and 10.0% in controls. The only difference was a higher prevalence of constipation in the case group (p = 0.003). Postnatally, 41 children had an ultrasound examination and 16 were referred to a paediatrician or urologist: 3 had persisting pyelectasis, 3 had a recurrent UTI and 1 required surgery (a pyeloplasty). Four of the controls were referred to a paediatrician or urologist: 3 had recurrent UTI and 1 had urinary incontinence. CONCLUSION: Children with a mild fetal pyelectasis do not have more urinary tract morbidity during childhood than children without this finding. Therefore, there seems to be no need for additional investigation after birth.
