Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Method To Assess The Organizing Behaviors Used In Physicians' Counseling Of Standardized Parents After Newborn Genetic Screening, Stephanie A. Christopher, Nadia Y. Ahmad, Lisa Bradford, Jenelle Collins, Kerry L. Eskra, Alison La Pean Kirschner, Faith O. O'Tool, Sara J. Roedl, Michael H. Farrell

College of Professional Studies Faculty Research and Publications

Well-organized conversation can improve people’s ability to comprehend and retain information. As part of a long-term effort to adapt Quality Improvement techniques for communication, we developed an explicit criteria method to assess usage of three organizing behaviors (OBs): ‘opening behaviors’ to establish goals; ‘structuring behaviors’ to guide patients through conversation; and ‘emphasizing behaviors’ that signal a need for attention. Pairs of abstractors independently reviewed transcripts in a demonstration sample of conversations between physicians and standardized parents after newborn screening identifies carrier status for sickle cell disease. Criteria for at least one OB were identified in 50/84 transcripts (60%), including 27 …

Improving Communication Between Doctors And Parents After Newborn Screening, Michael Farrell, Stephanie Christopher, Audrey Tluczek, Karen Kennedy-Parker, Alison La Pean, Kerry Eskra, Jenelle Collins, Gary Hoffman, Julie Panepinto, Philip M. Farrell

College of Professional Studies Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Newborn screening (NBS) enables early treatment, and some consider it a natural vehicle for genetic screening. Bioethicists argue for caution since families of infants with carrier status can develop psychosocial complications. This paper describes the methods and feasibility of Wisconsin’s statewide project for quality improvement of communication and psychosocial outcomes after NBS.

Methods: When NBS identifies carrier status for cystic fibrosis or sickle cell, we contact primary care providers (PCPs), answer questions, and invite them to rehearse informing the parents. Three months later, we telephone the parents, assess knowledge and psychosocial outcomes, provide counseling, and assist with self-referral to …