Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Improving communication between doctors and parents after newborn screening

Michael H Farrell1, Stephanie A Christopher, Audrey Tluczek

  • 1Center for Patient Care and Outcomes Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. mfarrell@mcw.edu

WMJ : Official Publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin
|December 15, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Newborn screening (NBS) quality improvement is feasible for tracking psychosocial outcomes. Communication effectiveness varied, with parents having lower health literacy reporting less favorable experiences.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Public Health
  • Psychosocial Medicine

Background:

  • Newborn screening (NBS) facilitates early intervention but raises concerns about potential psychosocial complications for families identified with carrier status.
  • Bioethical considerations necessitate careful communication strategies following genetic screening in infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the methods and assess the feasibility of a statewide project in Wisconsin focused on improving communication and psychosocial outcomes after newborn screening.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies used to inform parents about their infant's carrier status.

Main Methods:

  • Contacting primary care providers (PCPs) upon identification of carrier status for cystic fibrosis or sickle cell to rehearse informing parents.
  • Following up with parents three months post-screening via telephone to assess knowledge, psychosocial outcomes, and provide resources.
  • Administering anonymous evaluation surveys to parents regarding their experience with the communication process.

Main Results:

  • Accurate PCP information was obtained for 73% of infants, with an additional 21% identified through other means.
  • PCPs were reached in time for rehearsal for 47.3% of cases, with 60% accepting the invitation.
  • 50.2% of eligible parents were successfully contacted; 61% recalled a PCP explanation, and 48.5% viewed it favorably, though parents with limited health literacy reported less favorable evaluations.

Conclusions:

  • The study demonstrates the feasibility of monitoring parents for psychosocial outcomes following newborn screening.
  • Preliminary findings on communication are mixed, indicating a need for further investigation into the associations between communication quality and psychosocial outcomes.
Abstract

More Related Videos

State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates10:02

State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates

Published on: February 2, 2015

Related Concept Videos

SBAR I: Understanding the Concept01:29

SBAR I: Understanding the Concept

Effective communication among healthcare professionals during hand-off reporting is essential to delivering safe and continuous patient care. Common professional interactions include reports to healthcare team members, hand-off, and transfer reports. Nurses routinely report information to other healthcare team members and also urgently contact healthcare providers to report changes in patient status.
Standardized methods of communication have been developed to ensure that information is...
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process II: Planning and Implementation01:25

Role of Communication in the Nursing Process II: Planning and Implementation

Several factors are considered while creating a patient's care plan. Motivation is a factor in improving communication, and patients often require encouragement to try different approaches involving significant change. It is essential to involve the patient and family in decisions about the plan of care to determine whether the suggested methods are acceptable. Consider meeting critical comfort and safety needs before introducing new communication methods and techniques. Allow adequate time for...
SBAR II: Application of SBAR01:14

SBAR II: Application of SBAR

SBAR is an effective communication tool used by healthcare professionals to communicate patient information accurately. SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. For a better understanding, an example is given below.
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process I: Assessment and Diagnosis01:25

Role of Communication in the Nursing Process I: Assessment and Diagnosis

The nursing process uses scientific reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking to guide nurses in providing patients with appropriate care. This process is a systematic approach to recognize, avoid, and treat current or potential health issues while promoting the patient's well-being.
The nursing process considers the patient's emotional and physical well-being. The process can be repeated or stopped at any point if judged essential. Assessment is the first step in the nursing process.
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing01:23

Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

Focusing involves centering a conversation on a message's critical elements or concepts. Focusing is valuable if the talk is vague or patients begin to repeat themselves. Sometimes, when patients are asked about their symptoms, they may go off-topic and try to tell their entire life story. Respectfully, the nurse should bring the conversation back into focus.
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...