title: Universal newborn screening:  knowledge, attitudes, and satisfaction among public health professionals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess knowledge, attitude, and satisfaction with the newborn screening (NBS) system among pediatric public health leaders in the state of Florida.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online surveys and open-ended telephone interviews were administered to 10 county medical directors for a state-funded program that oversees NBS. Survey questions examined basic knowledge regarding NBS, views on provider and parent access to NBS information, and recommendations for improving the information distribution system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Providers learn about NBS from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Department of Health, and continuing medical education; however, 80% of providers were concerned about receiving inadequate information. Thirty percent of the providers surveyed reported that it takes >14 days to receive NBS results. The majority (80%) were concerned that parents may not receive adequate information about their infant's condition, treatment, or prognosis. No provider reported being confident in his or her ability to assess how well a parent understands a positive NBS result. Eighty percent of those surveyed believe that the pediatric primary care provider is responsible for providing NBS information to parents and almost all of the providers (90%) believed parents should be notified of normal NBS results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates dissatisfaction with and confusion about NBS. Addressing this problem requires action at the levels of medical education, clinical care, health policy, and information systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sein
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D003710:Demography; D005431:Florida; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D010290:Parents; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D008486:Physician Executives