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. 2015 Jun;17(6):501-4.
doi: 10.1038/gim.2014.139. Epub 2014 Dec 4.

Parents are interested in newborn genomic testing during the early postpartum period

Susan E Waisbren  1 , Danielle K Bäck  2 , Christina Liu  3 , Sarah S Kalia  3 , Steven A Ringer  4 , Ingrid A Holm  5 , Robert C Green  6
Affiliations

Parents are interested in newborn genomic testing during the early postpartum period

Susan E Waisbren et al. Genet Med. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: We surveyed parents to ascertain interest in newborn genomic testing and determine whether these queries would provoke refusal of conventional state-mandated newborn screening.

Methods: After a brief genetics orientation, parents rated their interest in receiving genomic testing for their healthy newborn on a 5-point Likert scale and answered questions about demographics and health history. We used logistic regression to explore factors associated with interest in genomic testing and tracked any subsequent rejection of newborn screening.

Results: We queried 514 parents within 48 hours after birth while still in hospital (mean age (SD) 32.7 (6.4) years, 65.2% female, 61.2% white, 79.3% married). Parents reported being not at all (6.4%), a little (10.9%), somewhat (36.6%), very (28.0%), or extremely (18.1%) interested in genomic testing for their newborns. None refused state-mandated newborn screening. Married participants and those with health concerns about their infant were less interested in newborn genomic testing (P = 0.012 and P = 0.030, respectively). Degree of interest for mothers and fathers was discordant (at least two categories different) for 24.4% of couples.

Conclusion: Interest in newborn genomic testing was high among parents of healthy newborns, and the majority of couples had similar levels of interest. Surveying parents about genomic sequencing did not prompt rejection of newborn screening.Genet Med 17 6, 501-504.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURES

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Parental interest, immediately after birth, in hypothetical newborn genomic testing for their newborns as part of a research study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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