title: Current practice and attitudes of Australian obstetricians toward population-based carrier screening for inherited conditions.
abstract: An anonymous survey of Australian Fellows of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists was conducted with the aim of understanding current practice and attitudes toward population-based carrier screening for inherited conditions in the setting of routine pregnancy care. Of 1,121 Fellows invited to complete the online questionnaire by e-mail, 237 (21%) responded, and of these 156 were practicing obstetricians and completed the whole survey. Of the respondents, 83% expressed support for population-based carrier screening for at least some conditions, with 97% supporting carrier screening for β-thalassaemia, and 83% supporting carrier screening for cystic fibrosis (CF). A small proportion of obstetricians reported offering carrier screening as part of routine pregnancy care (20% for β-thalassaemia, 8% for CF, 5% for fragile X syndrome, and 2% for spinal muscular atrophy). The main practical barriers identified for screening were cost, time constraints, and availability of supporting services. Addressing these issues is crucial for the successful implementation of population-based carrier screening programs in Australia and internationally.
authors: Genetic Health Services Victoria, Parkville VIC, Australia.
authors: Zornitza
authors: Z
authors: Stark
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Massie
authors: Belinda
authors: B
authors: McClaren
authors: Liane
authors: L
authors: Ioannou
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Cousens
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Lewis
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Metcalfe
authors: Martin B
authors: MB
authors: Delatycki
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009520:New Zealand; D009774:Obstetrics; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics*