Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome and Maternal Symptomatology-An Exploratory Analysis of Patient Experiences When Reporting Complaints.

Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome and Maternal Symptomatology-An Exploratory Analysis of Patient Experiences When Reporting Complaints.

Nicholas Lauren; Fischbein Rebecca; Falletta Lynn; Baughman Kristin

Journal of patient experience

2018

2018-06

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess patient experiences when reporting symptoms of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) to their health-care providers. Methodology: The study utilized an online, retrospective survey of women, over the age of 18, who were living in the United States at the time of their pregnancy and had completed a TTTS pregnancy. Results: Three hundred sixty-seven cases were included for analysis. Nearly half of the respondents (45.2%) reported experiencing maternal symptoms prior to TTTS diagnosis. The average number of symptoms experienced was 2.85. The average gestational week of symptom onset was 18.2. A total of 76.2% of respondents experiencing symptoms shared these concerns with their health-care provider; however, slightly more than half (51.2%) believed that the provider dismissed their complaints. Conclusions: Results suggest a disconnect between patients' reporting TTTS symptoms and health-care providers responding attentively, as perceived by the patient. It would be advantageous for health-care providers to inform women pregnant with a monochorionic-diamniotic pregnancy to immediately report the presence of any symptom described in the present research, which may be associated with any number of twin pregnancy-related complications.

maternal symptomatology; MCDA; monochorionic-diamniotic; patient experience; reporting; TTTS; twin-twin transfusion syndrome

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