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 ␤-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 ␤-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.

Prenatal and preconception population carrier screening for cystic fibrosis in Australia: Where are we up to?

“…The attitudes of obstetricians to CF carrier screening were addressed by an online questionnaire sent to 1121 Australian obstetricians in 2011 . Of the 237 respondents, 83% supported carrier screening for CF and 97% supported carrier screening for β‐thalassaemia.…”

‘No thanks’—reasons why pregnant women declined an offer of cystic fibrosis carrier screening

“…A recent study by Stark et al (2013) showed that barriers identified by Australian obstetricians in regard to routinely offering genetic (not just CF) carrier screening were: time constraints, costs and availability of supporting services. A lack of knowledge and experience in regard to CF and genetic screening has also been indicated as a barrier, with health professionals not feeling confident in their ability to provide screening to their patients, which may contribute to women's reasons for declining screening.…”

Measuring the impact of genetic knowledge on intentions and attitudes of the community towards expanded preconception carrier screening

“…These international studies explored various factors such as preferences, familiarity and perceived benefits or risk. Previous research in Australia has included obstetricians29 or qualitatively explored themes surrounding carrier screening 30…”