An evaluation of newborn hearing screening brochures and parental understanding of screening result terminology

Abstract

Objective

To assess the suitability of newborn hearing screening brochures by evaluating current state-level brochures and pregnant people’s understanding of screening result terminology.

Design

In Study 1, state-level brochures were evaluated based on readability, design, picture appropriateness, and use of the word “refer.” In Study 2, pregnant people completed a questionnaire that queried their understanding of and expected anxiety about three newborn hearing screening outcomes (“refer,” “did not pass,” and “pass”).

Study sample

In Study 1, 59 newborn hearing screening brochures were analysed. In Study 2, 43 pregnant people completed surveys during a prenatal appointment.

Results

Most of the brochures were found deficient on at least one element. Thirty percent of brochures used the word “refer” to indicate a hearing screening failure; yet, fewer than half of participants understood its meaning. Ratings of expected anxiety were highest in response to the term “did not pass.”

Conclusions

Based on four study criteria of brochure suitability, 88% of available state-level newborn hearing screening brochures should be modified to make them readily understandable by a broad educational demographic. Discretion in use of the term “refer” should be made when indicating screening results, because the term is not readily understood.

Keywords:

• Healthcare communication
• readability
• anxiety
• parent

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 For purposes of this paper, the authors chose gender inclusive language as they did not query study participants regarding their gender identities.