Conceptualizing couples’ decision making in PGD: Emerging cognitive, emotional, and moral dimensions

Abstract 

Objective

To illuminate and synthesize what is known about the underlying decision making processes surrounding couples’ preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) use or disuse and to formulate an initial conceptual framework that can guide future research and practice.

Methods

This systematic review targeted empirical studies published in English from 1990 to 2008 that examined the decision making process of couples or individual partners that had used, were eligible for, or had contemplated PGD. Sixteen studies met the eligibility requirements. To provide a more comprehensive review, empirical studies that examined healthcare professionals’ perceptions of couples’ decision making surrounding PGD use and key publications from a variety of disciplines supplemented the analysis.

Results

The conceptual framework formulated from the review demonstrates that couples’ PGD decision making is composed of three iterative and dynamic dimensions: cognitive appraisals, emotional responses, and moral judgments.

Conclusion

Couples think critically about uncertain and probabilistic information, grapple with conflicting emotions, and incorporate moral perspectives into their decision making about whether or not to use PGD.

Practice implications

The quality of care and decisional support for couples who are contemplating PGD use can be improved by incorporating focused questions and discussion from each of the dimensions into counseling sessions.

Keywords: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Assisted reproductive technology, Genetic testing, Decision making, Couples, Theory development