Achieving Diagnostic Excellence in Prenatal Diagnosis Through Patient-Reported Measures Comment on "Achieving Diagnostic Excellence: Roadmaps to Develop and Use Patient-Reported Measures With an Equity Lens".

Abstract

McDonald and colleagues' work "Achieving Diagnostic Excellence: Roadmaps to Develop and Use Patient-Reported Measures With an Equity Lens" emphasizes the critical role of patient-reported measures (PRMs) in achieving diagnostic excellence, with a focus on equity. PRMs capture patients' experiences, symptoms, and concerns throughout the diagnostic process, enhancing accuracy and addressing uncertainties. In contexts like maternity care, PRMs have been applied to reveal and reduce communication gaps and alleviate anxiety, offering crucial support for improving diagnostic experiences and outcomes. This commentary explores the application of McDonald and colleagues' visions and roadmaps to prenatal diagnosis, specifically focusing "prenatal screening and testing" (PreST), a complex process where diverse patient populations face challenges in understanding and responding to sequential test results. Tailored diagnosis-related PRMs can provide healthcare providers with tools to enhance shared decision-making, equitable communication, and patient satisfaction, leading to more inclusive and personalized diagnostic pathways.