Motivation for Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing Among Non-High Risk Patients: An Integrative Review of the Literature

Motivation for Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing Among Non-High Risk Patients: An Integrative Review of the Literature

Eva Vanoer

Faculty: Linda Graf, CNM, WHNP-C, DNP

Abstract

Background: Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has allowed for highly accurate screening for trisomy 21, 18, and 13 in high-risk expectant mothers since 2011. Despite high cost, it is now being used in the low-risk, general population. Few studies exist that illustrate why low-risk mothers want to elect this testing and if it as effective for them as it is for the high-risk population.

Objective: The purpose of this literature review is to identify key motivators that influence low risk expectant mothers to undergo NIPT and to evaluate its effectiveness for low-risk patients as it is for high risk patients.

Methods: This study utilized an integrative literature review to locate relevant literature from the last ten years to determine motivators for low-risk mothers to undergo NIPT and its effectiveness. The databases CINHAL, ProQuest, PsychInfo, and PubMed were used for the search.

Results: It is evident from the current literature that low-risk mothers seek screening for reassurance and anxiety reduction, due to the accuracy of the testing, and to allow for meaningful decision making. Additionally, the effectiveness of NIPT in the low-risk population is uniform in performance to that of the high-risk population.

Conclusion: This integrative literature review helped identify and summarize the key motivators that encourage low-risk mothers to accept NIPT in prenatal care. The data revealed that low-risk mothers primarily undergo screening for personal reassurance and because it is highly accurate.

Key Words: non-invasive prenatal testing, non-invasive prenatal screening, cell-free DNA testing, NIPT, motivation