Catherine A Wicklund

Publications (6)12.2 Total impact

• Article: Anxiety and prenatal testing: do women with soft ultrasound findings have increased anxiety compared to women with other indications for testing?

  Jennifer Hoskovec, Joan M Mastrobattista, Dennis Johnston, Anthony Kerrigan, Patricia Robbins-Furman, Catherine A Wicklund
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  ABSTRACT: To determine whether there is a difference in anxiety levels in women referred for soft ultrasound findings, AMA, and abnormal serum marker screens, all of whom have a similar risk for chromosome abnormalities, in order to provide an understanding of patients' anxiety, which may enhance the genetic counseling process. Two self-administered questionnaires were completed after the genetic counseling session. Participants were recruited from multiple prenatal clinics throughout Houston, Texas. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y was used to measure anxiety in study participants. Both state and trait anxiety were assessed. Differences between groups were examined using one-way analysis of variance, crosstabulation, chi-square, and Tukey multiple comparisons analysis. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Two hundred fifteen women participated in the study: 124 AMA, 55 abnormal maternal serum screens, and 36 soft ultrasound findings. Our findings revealed that women with soft ultrasound findings and abnormal maternal serum screens had significantly higher state anxiety than women who are AMA. State anxiety in women with soft ultrasound findings was not significantly different from women with abnormal maternal serum screens. No significant difference was found between the three groups for trait anxiety. Perceived risk, decision to undergo amniocentesis, education level, and income were factors that significantly affected the women's anxiety scores. However, none of these factors proved to be successful indicators of state or trait anxiety. A woman's referral indication is associated with different levels of anxiety as compared to the actual numerical risk for chromosome abnormalities presented during a genetic counseling session.
  Prenatal Diagnosis 03/2008; 28(2):135-40. · 2.11 Impact Factor
• Article: Awareness and attitudes regarding prenatal testing among Texas women of childbearing age.

  Amy P Case, Tunu A Ramadhani, Mark A Canfield, Catherine A Wicklund
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  ABSTRACT: Despite increased visibility and availability of prenatal testing procedures, very little is known about the attitudes among the populace toward these procedures. Using a computer assisted telephone interview of pregnant and non-pregnant women of childbearing age we analyze awareness and attitudes regarding prenatal tests among a diverse group of women of childbearing age in Texas. We also examine maternal characteristics associated with awareness and the willingness to undergo these procedures. While 89% were aware that such tests are available, younger, black and less educated women were less likely to know about prenatal tests for birth defects. Seventy-two percent of respondents said they would want their baby tested while Hispanic and black women were significantly more likely to express an interest than non-Hispanic whites. This study demonstrates the variability of knowledge and beliefs and confirms the importance of taking time to understand an individual's personal beliefs, knowledge and attitudes about prenatal diagnosis.
  Journal of Genetic Counseling 11/2007; 16(5):655-61. · 1.77 Impact Factor
• Article: 2006 National society of genetic counselors presidential address: join me on the NSGC journey.

  Catherine A Wicklund
  Journal of Genetic Counseling 05/2007; 16(2):119-21. · 1.77 Impact Factor
• Article: Racial-ethnic differences in genetic amniocentesis uptake.

  Jennifer B Saucier, Dennis Johnston, Catherine A Wicklund, Patricia Robbins-Furman, Jacqueline T Hecht, Manju Monga
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  ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to determine the role of health beliefs in genetic amniocentesis acceptance in a diverse racial-ethnic population. Participants completed a previously-validated questionnaire consisting of three sections: (1) demographics, (2) amniocentesis knowledge, and (3) health beliefs, which assessed perceived susceptibility, seriousness of potential impact, benefits of testing, and barriers to testing. The results showed that Hispanic women were less likely to accept amniocentesis (51.5% vs. Caucasian 82.8%, African American 82.9%, Asian 82.8%). Education level was the only demographic factor higher among acceptors. Women who accepted amniocentesis had higher perceived seriousness, susceptibility, and benefits HBM scores and higher knowledge scores than women who declined. HBM scores and knowledge predicted the amniocentesis decision correctly 91.5% of the time. Individual health beliefs and knowledge play a greater role in genetic amniocentesis acceptance than do demographic factors such as race-ethnicity.
  Journal of Genetic Counseling 07/2005; 14(3):189-95. · 1.77 Impact Factor
• Article: Ultrasound diagnosis of coexisting molar pregnancy following referral for abnormal serum screen.

  Manju Monga, Vicki Schumacher, Catherine A Wicklund, Richard Brown, Duc Le, Joan M Mastrobattista
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  ABSTRACT: Complete hydatidiform mole and coexistent fetus is a rare occurrence. We report a case of a patient referred for abnormal serum screen and vaginal bleeding in the second trimester of pregnancy. Ultrasound revealed a cystic and solid mass along the posterior uterine wall with multiple hypoechoic (honeycomb) areas noted, consistent with molar degeneration of the placenta. Separate from this mass was a coexisting viable fetus with normal fetal anatomy and distinct anterior placenta. At delivery, a large cystic mass of placental tissue appeared to be implanted separately from a normal-appearing fetus and placenta. The mass weighed 184 g and contained multiple 1- to 1.5-cm cysts throughout. Microscopic sections revealed hydropic chorionic villi with central cistern formation and nonpolar trophoblastic hyperplasia with atypia, compatible with complete hydatidiform mole. This case illustrates that the diagnosis of coexisting molar pregnancy after referral for abnormal serum screen should be considered, especially if maternal serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin is high and the patient has vaginal bleeding.
  American Journal of Perinatology 02/2005; 22(1):53-5. · 1.32 Impact Factor
• Article: Clinical correlates of pain with amniocentesis.

  April Harris, Manju Monga, Catherine A Wicklund, Patricia J Robbins-Furman, Michelle N Strecker, Nora M Doyle, Joan Mastrobattista
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  ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine whether sensory or affective dimensions of pain with genetic amniocentesis are associated with identifiable clinical correlates. Women completed the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire after second-trimester genetic amniocentesis. The effect of maternal weight, parity, previous amniocentesis, previous surgery, history of menstrual cramps, maternal anxiety, presence of fibroid tumors, and depth and location of needle insertion on pain intensity was determined. The T-test, correlation matrix, Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple logistic regression were used for analysis; a probability value of <.05 was considered significant. One hundred twenty-one women were enrolled: 19.3% reported no pain, 42.9% described the pain as mild, 31.1% described the pain as discomforting, and 6.7% described the pain as distressing or horrible. Mean intensity of pain was 1.6+/-1.3 (on a scale of 0-7). Pain was most often described as sharp, cramping, fearful, and stabbing. Anxiety and pain were increased in women with an indication of abnormal serum screen as compared with women with advanced maternal age. Anxiety and a history of menstrual cramps were associated with increased affective dimensions of pain and had moderate correlation with quantified pain intensity. A history of previous amniocentesis and needle insertion in the lower one third of the uterus were associated with increased pain. Maternal weight, parity, previous surgery, fibroid tumors, and depth of needle insertion were not correlated with perceived pain. Presence or absence of an accompanying person was not associated with pain intensity. Women report mild pain or discomfort with genetic amniocentesis. Increased pain is associated with increased maternal anxiety, a history of menstrual cramps, a previous amniocentesis, and insertion of the needle in the lower uterus.
  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 09/2004; 191(2):542-5. · 3.47 Impact Factor