Implications of carrier identification in newborn screening for cystic fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the psychosocial implications for families whose infant was identified as a cystic fibrosis carrier by newborn screening.


METHODS
Prospective psychosocial assessment.


METHODS
Primary care.


METHODS



METHODS
(a) families of an affected infant identified by screening (n = 9); (b) families of a carrier infant identified by screening (n = 10).


METHODS
group of mothers from the general population (n = 82).


METHODS
Questionnaires and semistructured interviews.


METHODS
Attitude to screening, assessments of the mother/baby relationship, anxiety, wellbeing.


RESULTS
All families were in favour of screening, with no evidence that the mother/baby relationship, anxiety or wellbeing had been adversely affected. Parents, however, did identify problems in terms of the service delivery protocol and genetic counselling practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Six months after disclosure, carrier identification was not perceived by parents to be problematic.
Parsons
E P
EP
Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, UK. parsonsep@cardiff.ac.uk
Clarke
A J
AJ
Bradley
D M
DM
D001007:Anxiety; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening / Q000379:methods*; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires