Acceptability of a first trimester screening test for pre-eclampsia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessing the acceptability of a first-trimester universal prenatal screening test for pre-eclampsia - a discrete choice experiment
IRAS ID
130039
Contact name
James Harris
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL Hospital Joint Research Office
Research summary
Pre-eclampsia is a serious obstetric condition that affects both mother and baby. Many tests have been devised that aim to predict if a woman is high or low risk of developing pre-eclampsia during their pregnancy. Currently there is no way of reducing the risk once it has been identified, nor of treating preeclampsia once it develops, other than expediting delivery of the fetus. An assessment of whether women and health professionals want to be given this information has not yet been taken.
The different tests for preeclampsia that are currently available differ in various attributes, such as how accurate they are, and how invasive the test is. This study is in two parts- first, people will be asked via a focus group to rank which of the eighteen identified attributes of the tests are important for them when making a decision on whether or not to have a screening test. Once the key attributes are identified, a ‘discrete choice experiment’ will be conducted – this is a special kind of survey that asks respondents to choose between three options - two tests, that differ on the identified attributes, or a no test option. So, for example, test A may be more accurate, but test B may be less invasive.
By making these choices, an analysis can be conducted on what, if any, screening test is most preferable to women, and so will help policy makers and care providers decide if tests should be introduced into clinical practice. Recruitment will take part in three ways – face-to-face, postal and internet.REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0811
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion