Online Program

287998
Parental survey of interest in newborn genome screening research


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Robert C. Green, MD, MPH, Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Sarah S. Kalia, ScM, CGC, Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Stephanie B. Petrides, Division of Genetics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
Harvey L. Levy, MD, Division of Genetics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
Susan E. Waisbren, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
There is considerable interest in conducting research in the controversial area of using genome sequencing to screen for future health risks in newborns. The 48 hours immediately after delivery is the most efficient time to enroll parents into empirical studies of newborn genome screening (NGS). However, even asking parents at this time might cause confusion or prompt refusal of state-mandated newborn screening (NBS), putting babies at risk. We conducted a survey among parents of healthy neonates on the post-partum unit at Brigham and Women's Hospital assessing parents' interest in participating in NGS research. Parents were systematically approached while on the post-partum unit and 87.3% agreed to participate. Among 216 parents queried about their interest in NGS, none questioned or declined state-mandated NBS. Parents rated their interest in NGS research on a 5-point Likert scale and responses were dichotomized to “not at all” or “a little” interested in NGS, versus “somewhat,” “very,” or “extremely” interested. In the hospital, 182 (84.3%) parents were at least “somewhat” interested in NGS, and 101 (46.8%) were “very” or “extremely” interested. Level of interest was not significantly associated with parents' age, sex, race, education, income, or number of biological children. These preliminary data suggest that parents of healthy neonates can be surveyed about NGS in the hospital without threatening compliance on conventional NBS. Interest in research that would involve NGS is high among parents of newborns in the hospital, with nearly half reporting that they would be “very” or “extremely” interested in such research.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Discuss parents' interest in participating in research using genome sequencing to screen their infants.

Keyword(s): Neonatal Screening, Genetics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal investigator of numerous NIH funded research studies focused on individuals' interest in learning their genetic risk information and their responses to that information. I am PI of a U01 grant studying the responsible integration of genomic sequencing into clinical care.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.