The Effects of a Holistic Information Program on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Anxiety Levels among Pregnant Women Undergoing Amniocentesis

Abstract

Amniocentesis is a diagnostic procedure for detecting chromosomal or genetic abnormalities in the fetus commonly performed in high-risk pregnant women. The procedure may lead to complications and cause anxiety related to both the process and the test results. Therefore, the researcher developed a holistic information program to effectively enhance knowledge, foster positive attitudes, and reduce anxiety among pregnant women. This quasi-experimental one-group pretest–posttest study aimed to examine the effects of the holistic information program on knowledge, attitudes, and anxiety levels. The sample consisted of 31 pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis who were selected through purposive sampling according to set inclusion criteria and who were considered appropriate for nursing research within a clinical context. Outcomes were assessed before and after participation in the program and in a follow-up evaluation conducted two weeks later. The research instruments consisted of questionnaires measuring knowledge, attitudes, and anxiety related to amniocentesis. The content validity of the instruments was assessed by a panel of experts with Index of Item–Objective Congruence (IOC) values ranging from 0.67 to 1.00. The reliability of the knowledge questionnaire, determined using the Kuder–Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20), was 0.78, whereas the attitude and anxiety questionnaires demonstrated Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.79 and 0.82, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repeated-measures ANOVAs.
The results showed that the holistic information program helped pregnant women achieve high levels of knowledge and positive attitudes, while reducing their anxiety levels low. Furthermore, comparisons of scores before and after participation and at the two-week follow-up revealed significant increases in knowledge and attitudes and a significant decrease in anxiety at the .05 level. The program effectively enhanced knowledge and positive attitudes and reduced anxiety levels. It is recommended to study long-term effects of the program and compare with other information delivery methods, as well as to develop digital or online formats to improve accessibility and continuity of information.