title: Parental knowledge reduces long term anxiety induced by false-positive test results after newborn screening for cystic fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  False-positive screening results in newborn screening for cystic fibrosis may lead to parental stress, family relationship problems and a changed perception of the child's health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether parental anxiety induced by a false positive screening result disappears after six months and to assess whether a special program to inform parents prior and during the screening procedure prevents or diminishes parental anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective controlled study assessing the long term effects of false-positive test results of newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (NBSCF) on parental anxiety and stress by means of questionnaires sent to parents of 106 infants with a false positive newborn screening test and 318 randomly selected infants with a true negative screening test. Additionally we interviewed 25 parents of the false-positive group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents showed negative feelings after being informed about the positive screening test result. After confirmation that their child was healthy and not suffering from CF, most parents felt reassured. After six months no difference in anxiety levels between both groups of parents was found. Well-informed parents in the false positive group experienced less stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A positive screening test result induces parental anxiety but false positive test results in NBSCF do not seem to cause long-term anxiety. Well-informed parents show lower stress and anxiety levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, St. Jansdal Hospital, PO Box 138, 3840 AC Harderwijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A M M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vernooij-van Langen
authors.affiliation: TNO, Department of Child Health, PO Box 2215, 2301 CE Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: van der Pal
authors.affiliation: Atrium Medical Centre, Department of Research and Innovation, PO Box 4446, 6401 CX Heerlen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A J T
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Reijntjens
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Perinatal Screening (LIS), PO Box 1, 3702 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Loeber
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Centre, Department of Paediatric Pulmonology, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dompeling
authors.affiliation: Atrium Medical Centre, Department of Paediatrics, PO Box 4446, 6401 CX Heerlen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dankert-Roelse
keywords: Cystic fibrosis; False positive; Newborn screening; Parental feelings; Parental knowledge