title: [Using an employee survey as a means of quality assurance in newborn hearing screening].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies drawing information not only from technical data but also from surveying human resources behind the universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) appear to be a rarity. This study aims at showing how the state of both knowledge and practical skills among the screening staff are essential aspects in future quality management.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-developed questionnaire was sent to hospital staff addressing a total of 710 nurses who were registered as having undertaken a UNHS training course. Questions were aimed at aspects of organization, personal practical skills, current problems and improvement possibilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High rates of occupancy, lack of trained personnel, technical issues and background noise disturbances were considered to be factors that increased time pressure and slowed down procedures. Of the participants 16 % considered communicating a "refer" result to parents a difficult step and 8 % felt insecure when explaining the aims and procedures to parents. There was a high interest in further training sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey served well to reveal aspects of improvement in screening procedures and meeting staff needs. The training sessions should outline practical aspects of conducting screening and also professional, sensitive communication to parents.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Kardinal-von-Galen-Ring 10, 48149 Münster, Germany. alica.depenbrock@t-online.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Depenbrock
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matulat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: am Zehnhoff-Dinnesen
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*