Naho Yakuwa1, Ken Nakajima2, Sachi Koinuma3, Mikako Goto3, Tomo Suzuki4, Naoki Ito5, Omi Watanabe3, Atsuko Murashima4. 1. Japan Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy, National Center for Child Health and Development Tokyo, Japan; Department of Pharmaceuticals, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: yakuwa-n@ncchd.go.jp. 2. Japan Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy, National Center for Child Health and Development Tokyo, Japan; Department of Pharmaceuticals, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan. 3. Japan Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy, National Center for Child Health and Development Tokyo, Japan. 4. Japan Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy, National Center for Child Health and Development Tokyo, Japan; Center for Maternal-Fetal, Neonatal and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Perinatology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan. 5. Japan Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy, National Center for Child Health and Development Tokyo, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To confirm the current state of Japanese women's perception of the teratogenic risk of medication exposure during pregnancy, and to assess the effect of counseling by Japan Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy. METHODS: We used VAS to monitor the sentiments of pregnant women, before and after face-to-face counseling, about their own teratogenic risk perception, and their intention to continue pregnancy. Pregnancy outcomes were investigated by mailed questionnaires. RESULTS: Among 681 pregnant women, the median estimation of the risk of having a baby with a birth defect was 33.0% (interquartile range 16.0-50.0%) prior to counseling and 5.0% after counseling (2.0-11.0%). The median intention to continue pregnancy increased from 86.0% to 100.0% after counseling. The actual outcome survey revealed that almost all participants (97.1%) continued their pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women tend to overestimate the fetal risks of medication exposure during pregnancy. Counseling would prevent unnecessary termination.
OBJECTIVE: To confirm the current state of Japanese women's perception of the teratogenic risk of medication exposure during pregnancy, and to assess the effect of counseling by Japan Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy. METHODS: We used VAS to monitor the sentiments of pregnant women, before and after face-to-face counseling, about their own teratogenic risk perception, and their intention to continue pregnancy. Pregnancy outcomes were investigated by mailed questionnaires. RESULTS: Among 681 pregnant women, the median estimation of the risk of having a baby with a birth defect was 33.0% (interquartile range 16.0-50.0%) prior to counseling and 5.0% after counseling (2.0-11.0%). The median intention to continue pregnancy increased from 86.0% to 100.0% after counseling. The actual outcome survey revealed that almost all participants (97.1%) continued their pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women tend to overestimate the fetal risks of medication exposure during pregnancy. Counseling would prevent unnecessary termination.