Newborn Screening: Survey of Parents’ Views and Experiences

1. Newborn Screening: Survey of Parents’ Views and Experiences Robert Clark Clinical Ethics and Law Group Faculty of Medicine University of Southampton

2. Newborn Screening

3. Modern Advancements? Fragile X Syndrome? Susceptibility to Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus? Hereditary Haemochromatosis? Lymphoblastic Leukaemia?

4. Ethical IssuesFor Current Tests & Susceptibility Tests • Benefits and Harms • Autonomy – parental and child • Cost-effectiveness

5. Current Need for Consent? ‘‘newborn screening should be mandatory and free of charge if early diagnosis and treatment will benefit the newborn’’. National Screening Committee Leaflet available online at newbornbloodspot.screening.nhs.uk/

7. Aims of the Study? 1. Do parents feel that they were adequately consented for the heel-prick testing of their newborn baby? 2. To what extent are parents satisfied with the follow up communication and care that they received as part of the UK Newborn Screening Programme? 3. What do parents think about incorporating susceptibility testing for a range of common conditions for example heart disease, diabetes and cancer into the Newborn Screening Programme?

8. Method • Paper survey • Pilot study performed, n=6 • Different question styles – open, closed, Likert scale • Selection criteria – children <5 years • Sample size – pragmatic approach • Recruitment process

9. Response • 4 nurseries • 1 mother/baby toddler group • 250 questionnaires handed out • 80 returned

10. CONSENT AND INFORMATION

11. What Percentage of Respondents Remember Giving Permission for the Heel-Prick Test? Were Parents Aware of Their Right to Decide Over Testing?

12. Did People Feel Consent Was Needed for the Current Heel-Prick Test?

13. Did People Think the Heel-Prick Test is 100% Accurate? National Screening Committee Leaflet available online at newbornbloodspot.screening.nhs.uk/

14. Information Sources

15. Susceptibility Testing

16. Parental Opinion: Testing Babies Levels of Disease Risk

17. Parental Opinion Testing BabiesAge of Disease Onset

18. Parent Opinion Testing Babies Untreatable Conditions?

19. Etchegary H et al, 2010 • Paper survey, n=648, 2010 • High levels of interest in testing for specific disorders regardless of whether effective treatment existed, or age of onset • 93% parents felt informed consent should be obtained before NBS • Parents’ Reasoning: • - opportunity to prepare for any special needs • - fundamental right to access any and all health information about their children

20. Tercyak KP et al, 2011 • Online survey, n=219, 2011 • Majority - benefits of susceptibility testing outweigh risks. • All parents were educated about risk and ethical implications when offered testing for themselves, yet despite this parents offered testing were more inclined to have their child tested. • Parents more readily anticipated the positives of testing versus any negatives.

21. Conclusion Summary • Informed consent remains important to parents • Lack of parental knowledge despite 86% receiving information • Expansion of NBS to include testing for future diseases irrespective of age of onset, level of susceptibility and lack of treatment options appears to be supported by the majority of parents

22. Future Implications • Improve parental knowledge - ethical and social concerns of testing • Health care professionals should anticipate the high level of interest shown by parents on the subject and perhaps prepare to facilitate discussion on the virtues of such testing.

23. Acknowledgments Thank-you to the following people who have helped me with my study: • Dr Angela Fenwick • Prof. AnnekeLucassen • Nurseries and play-group • Parents that responded to the survey

24. References 1. Etchegary H et al Interest in Newborn Genetic Screening: A Survey of Prospective Parents and the General Public. Genet Test Mol 2011 2. Tercyak KP. Parents Attitudes Toward Pediatric Genetic testing For Common Disease Risk. Pediatrics. May 2011