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Nicholls SG, Wilson BJ, Etchegary H, Brehaut JC, Potter BK, Hayeems R, Chakraborty P, Milburn J, Pullman D, Turner L, Carroll JC. Benefits and burdens of newborn screening: public understanding and decision-making. Per Med 2014; 11:593-607. [PMID: 29758802 DOI: 10.2217/pme.14.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In this article we review the literature regarding the public understanding of the potential benefits and burdens of expanded newborn bloodspot screening. We draw attention to broadened notions of benefit that go beyond early identification of asymptomatic individuals and interventions to reduce morbidity or mortality, and include benefits gained by families through knowledge that may facilitate life choices, as well as gains generated by avoiding diagnostic delays. We also reflect on burdens such as increasing false-positive results and parental anxiety, together with risks of overdiagnosis when the natural history of a condition is poorly understood. We conclude that expanded notions of benefit and burden bring with them implications for parental consent and confidentiality and the secondary use of bloodspots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart G Nicholls
- Department of Epidemiology & Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brenda J Wilson
- Department of Epidemiology & Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Holly Etchegary
- Clinical Epidemiology, Memorial University, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Jamie C Brehaut
- Department of Epidemiology & Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Practice Changing Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Beth K Potter
- Department of Epidemiology & Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robin Hayeems
- Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Pranesh Chakraborty
- Newborn Screening Ontario, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer Milburn
- Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN), Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daryl Pullman
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St Johns, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
| | - Lesley Turner
- Eastern Health, St John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
| | - June C Carroll
- Department of Family & Community Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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