{"title":"Towards a Responsible Implementation of NIPT as a First-Tier Test in Canada: Decision-Makers' Perspectives.","authors":"Marie-Christine Roy, Marie-Françoise Malo, Tierry Morel-Laforce, Vardit Ravitsky, Anne-Marie Laberge","doi":"10.1002/pd.6753","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore decision makers' perspectives on the conditions for a responsible implementation of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) as a first-tier test in Canadian provinces' healthcare systems.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A qualitative study was conducted with 16 Canadian decision makers who were interviewed between February 2021 and July 2022. After anonymization and transcription, interviews were coded inductively using thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our interviews showed the complexity of the decision making environment regarding prenatal screening funding. Participants agreed that NIPT is superior to maternal serum screening as a first-tier test, but they also recognized that first-tier NIPT has limits and barriers. They described the following conditions for its responsible implementation: (1) need for time and evidence; (2) taking stakeholders' perspectives into account; (3) limit costs for the healthcare system; (4) ensure appropriate logistical conditions and harmonize the test offer; (5) ensure appropriate clinical services; (6) ensure informed consent; (7) ensure the test is presented as an individual choice to avoid eugenic concerns.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Multiple barriers and issues need to be addressed before moving NIPT from second- to first-tier. Decision makers' perspectives should be contrasted with those of other important stakeholders, including pregnant people, disability advocates and healthcare professionals.</p>","PeriodicalId":20387,"journal":{"name":"Prenatal Diagnosis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Prenatal Diagnosis","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pd.6753","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GENETICS & HEREDITY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: To explore decision makers' perspectives on the conditions for a responsible implementation of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) as a first-tier test in Canadian provinces' healthcare systems.
Method: A qualitative study was conducted with 16 Canadian decision makers who were interviewed between February 2021 and July 2022. After anonymization and transcription, interviews were coded inductively using thematic analysis.
Results: Our interviews showed the complexity of the decision making environment regarding prenatal screening funding. Participants agreed that NIPT is superior to maternal serum screening as a first-tier test, but they also recognized that first-tier NIPT has limits and barriers. They described the following conditions for its responsible implementation: (1) need for time and evidence; (2) taking stakeholders' perspectives into account; (3) limit costs for the healthcare system; (4) ensure appropriate logistical conditions and harmonize the test offer; (5) ensure appropriate clinical services; (6) ensure informed consent; (7) ensure the test is presented as an individual choice to avoid eugenic concerns.
Conclusion: Multiple barriers and issues need to be addressed before moving NIPT from second- to first-tier. Decision makers' perspectives should be contrasted with those of other important stakeholders, including pregnant people, disability advocates and healthcare professionals.
期刊介绍:
Prenatal Diagnosis welcomes submissions in all aspects of prenatal diagnosis with a particular focus on areas in which molecular biology and genetics interface with prenatal care and therapy, encompassing: all aspects of fetal imaging, including sonography and magnetic resonance imaging; prenatal cytogenetics, including molecular studies and array CGH; prenatal screening studies; fetal cells and cell-free nucleic acids in maternal blood and other fluids; preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD); prenatal diagnosis of single gene disorders, including metabolic disorders; fetal therapy; fetal and placental development and pathology; development and evaluation of laboratory services for prenatal diagnosis; psychosocial, legal, ethical and economic aspects of prenatal diagnosis; prenatal genetic counseling