Framing of prenatal screening test results and women's health-illness orientations as determinants of perceptions of fetal health and approval of amniocentesis

Framing effects of medical test results and interactions of these effects w ith personal perspectives were investigated in the context of prenatal scre ening. Hundred and Thirty-three pregnant women undergoing the 'triple-test' were assessed as having health or illness orientations, and were randomly presented with reassuring/moderate/severe diagnoses framed in normal/abnorm al terms, forming a 2 x 3 x 2 between subjects design. Evaluations of fetus ' health and recommendations to perform amniocentesis were assessed. Findin gs showed healthier evaluations of the fetus and weaker recommendations to perform amniocentesis in normal versus abnormal framings. An interaction wa s found between framing, diagnosis, and personal orientations: women with h ealth orientations receiving a moderate diagnosis framed in abnormal terms were significantly more inclined to recommend amniocentesis than illness-or iented women given the same diagnosis; the normal/abnormal framing of sever e diagnoses yielded opposite effects on health-oriented versus illness-orie nted women. The influences of framing effects and health/illness orientatio ns on health perceptions and behavioral intentions were discussed.