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Abstract
Over 95% of patients have an ultrasound scan at 20 weeks of pregnancy. This scan is a form of screening test, and women should be informed reliably about the scan so that they can make an informed choice whether or not to have it. An anonymous questionnaire was issued to patients attending for their 20-week scan on arrival in the department. As well as demographic data, patients were asked some multiple choice style questions about the 20-week scan, and asked how they had obtained information about the scan. Of 220 patients scanned, 216 completed questionnaires. The other four were not given one when they booked in. The mean age was 29 (range 15–44), 51% were nulliparous and 31% were para 1. Only 42% of patients considered that they were given the choice to have the scan. Only 16% of patients knew that the scan would detect approximately 50% of major problems, with 32% answering 90%, and 50% not knowing. Only 62% of patients felt they had been given enough information about the 20 week scan before they had it. The most common source of information was the community midwives, with 58% of patients indicating them as a source.