title: Offering antenatal sickle cell and thalassaemia screening in primary care: a pre-post evaluation of a brief type of communication skills training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate brief communication skills training for healthcare professionals (HCPs) in offering antenatal sickle cell and thalassaemia (SCT) screening in primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study within a cluster randomised controlled trial in 17 inner city practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  126 HCPs were invited to attend a training session. Outcome measures were: attendance; perceived usefulness of training; comfort and confidence in offering screening; offering screening at pregnancy confirmation consultations; gestational age at test uptake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  62% (78/126) HCPs attended training and 61 completed both pre- and post-training questionnaires. There were 49 new joiners and locums not in post at the start of the trial. After training, HCPs reported greater comfort [4.8 vs 5.4, p = 0.05] and confidence [4.6 vs 5.6, p<0.001] in offering screening. Pregnant women consulting trained HCPs were offered screening more frequently and at an earlier gestational age than those consulting untrained HCPs (75% vs 44%, χ(2) = 122, p<0.001; 91.5 days (attending training) vs 98.5 days (did not attend training) vs 101.8 days (new joiners and locums), F = 8.49, df 1069,2 p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brief communication skills training for HCPs in offering antenatal SCT screening in primary care is feasible and can be effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ways of maximising HCP attendance in training sessions requires consideration.
authors: King's College London, UK.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Dormandy
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Reid
authors: Vicki
authors: V
authors: Tsianakas
authors: Bernadette
authors: B
authors: O'Neil
authors: Elaine
authors: E
authors: Gill
authors: Theresa M
authors: TM
authors: Marteau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D002983:Clinical Competence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003142:Communication; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D005865:Gestational Age; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult