title: Evaluating reporting and process quality of publications on UNHS: a systematic review of programmes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Congenital hearing loss is one of the most frequent birth defects, and Early Detection and Intervention has been found to improve language outcomes. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) established quality of care process indicators and benchmarks for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS). We have aggregated some of these indicators/benchmarks according to the three pillars of universality, timely detection and overreferral. When dealing with inter-comparison, relying on complete and standardised literature data becomes crucial. The purpose of this paper is to verify whether literature data on UNHS programmes have included sufficient information to allow inter-programme comparisons according to the indicators considered.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a systematic search identifying UNHS studies and assessing the quality of programmes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The identified 12 studies demonstrated heterogeneity in criteria for referring to further examinations during the screening phase and in identifying high-risk neonates, protocols, tests, staff, and testing environments. Our systematic review also highlighted substantial variability in reported performance data. In order to optimise the reporting of screening protocols and process performance, we propose a checklist. Another result is the difficulty in guaranteeing full respect for the criteria of universality, timely detection and overreferral.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standardisation in reporting UNHS experiences may also have a positive impact on inter-program comparisons, hence favouring the emergence of recognised best practices.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies, National Research Council, Rome, 00185, Italy. pierpaolo.mincarone@irpps.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mincarone
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Lecce, 73100, Italy. leo@ifc.cnr.it.|Division of Clinical Decision Making, Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02111, USA. leo@ifc.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Carlo Giacomo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Leo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Lecce, 73100, Italy. sabina@ifc.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabina
authors.affiliation: Newborn Hearing Screening Service, Azienda USL7 Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy. d.costantini@usl7.toscana.it.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.affiliation: Regional Health Authority of Umbria, Perugia, 06124, Italy. fcozzolino.pg@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cozzolino
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Decision Making, Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02111, USA. jwong@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.|School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA. jwong@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Lecce, 73100, Italy. gilatini@tin.it.|Division of Neonatology, "Perrino" Hospital, ASL Brindisi, Brindisi, 72100, Italy. gilatini@tin.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Latini
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000592:standards*; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D011643:Publishing / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care