Comparing the Effects of Group and Individual Education on Worry and Anxiety of Pregnant Women about Fetal Chromosomal Disorders Screening Tests

Fetal chromosomal disorders screening tests may cause worry and anxiety in pregnant women. This study was conducted with aim to compare the effects of group and individual education on worry and anxiety of pregnant women about fetal chromosomal disorders screening tests. This clinical trial study was performed on 240 pregnant women with gestational age< 10 weeks at Mashhad health care centers in 2014. Data collection tool was individual information form، Cambridge worry and Spielberger anxiety inventory. In the intervention groups، individual and group education was held once a week for two sessions during two consecutive weeks، and in control group، the routine care was performed. The rate of worry and anxiety was measured before education and also in 20-22 weeks of pregnancy in three groups. Data was analyzed using SPSS statistical software (version 16) and ANOVA، Tukey and T-test. Mean score of worry in pregnant women was significantly different in three groups of individual education (17. 55±8. 03)، group education (19. 48±8. 87) and control group (24. 18±5. 06) (P=0. 001). Also، mean score of state anxiety in pregnant women was significantly different in three groups of individual education (46. 9±4. 01)، group education (45. 5±3. 01) and control group (47. 9±5. 26)، and mean score of trait anxiety was significantly different in three groups of individual education (45. 86±4. 34)، group education (46. 73±4. 36) and control group (44. 32±5. 08) (P=0. 001). According to the effectiveness of individual and group education methods to reduce worry and state anxiety in pregnant women about fetal chromosomal disorders screening tests، each of these educational methods can be used on the basis of the clinical environment to encourage the women to use screening tests.