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Neonatal examination and screening--survey of GP practice and opinion
1Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill.
Objective:
To describe, within the Grampian region of Scotland, the current practice of routine neonatal screening by general practitioners and their opinions of it.
Design:
Postal questionnaire survey.
Setting:
Grampian region, Scotland.
Subjects:
All general practitioners in Grampian (n = 339).
Results:
295 (88%) general practitioners (GPs) responded. 164/285 (58%) thought that two routine neonatal examinations were necessary; however only 29% actually carried out two examinations. Those who had previously held a paediatric job were more likely to advocate two examinations (65% versus 41%). 'City' GPs more often thought that hospital paediatric staff, rather than GPs, should carry out routine neonatal examinations (22% versus 7% 'peripheral' GPs).
Conclusions:
Actual practice and experience appear to influence GP opinions about routine neonatal screening. If a randomised trial comparing one versus two routine neonatal examinations, currently in progress in the region, demonstrates that one examination is sufficient, resources will be required to reverse the opinions of the majority who feel that two examinations are necessary.