Training Primary Healthcare Professionals for Expanded Newborn Screening with Tandem Mass Spectrometry: Challenges...

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Public Health
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Newborn screening (NBS) in Brazil utilizes dried blood spots (DBSs) collected at Basic Health Units (BHUs) between the 3rd and 5th days of life.
• A pilot study introduced tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for screening 22 inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) within the NBS program.
• Healthcare professionals at BHUs were tasked with patient education, collecting additional DBS samples on research cards, and delivering results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on the experience and outcomes of face-to-face training for healthcare professionals at BHUs during a pilot NBS expansion in southern Brazil.
• To assess the satisfaction and identify challenges faced by primary healthcare professionals involved in implementing MS/MS-based NBS for IEMs.

Main Methods:

• Conducted in-person visits to 137 BHUs in southern Brazil.
• Provided training on the pilot project, distributed educational materials on 22 IEMs and MS/MS-based NBS.
• Collected feedback from 486 participating healthcare professionals regarding satisfaction and challenges.

Main Results:

• High overall satisfaction (97.1%) reported by BHUs with the training and pilot project.
• A significant proportion of BHUs (40.1%) raised questions regarding IEMs, indicating a need for continued education.
• Complaints (13.1%) were noted regarding the research card's texture and drying difficulties, impacting sample quality.

Conclusions:

• Face-to-face training is effective in enhancing healthcare professional understanding and satisfaction with expanded NBS programs.
• Addressing practical challenges, such as issues with collection materials, is crucial for successful implementation.
• Continuous training on IEMs for primary healthcare professionals is essential for the effective expansion of MS/MS-based NBS in Brazil.