International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

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”

Document Type : Commentary

Authors
An Chen 1, 2, 3
Oona Tchitcherin 2, 3
Kirsi Väyrynen 2, 4
Paulus Torkki 3
Seppo Heinonen 2
Aydin Tekay 2
1 School of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, China
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
3 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland
10.34172/ijhpm.8921
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. 
Keywords
Diagnostic Excellence
Patient-Reported Measures (PRMs)
Prenatal Diagnosis
Diagnostic Uncertainty
Communication
Equity in Healthcare
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International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Volume 14, Issue 1
2025
Pages 1-5

  • Received Date 25 November 2024
  • Revised Date 13 June 2025
  • Accepted Date 15 June 2025
  • First Published Date 16 June 2025
  • Published Date 01 December 2025