Baseline Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthcare Practitioners in Rizal Province, Philippines toward Implementing the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program

Abstract

Objective. The study describes the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare practitioners in Rizal province regarding the implementation of the universal newborn hearing screening program (UNHSP).Materials and Methods. A descriptive phenomenologic research design through focus group discussions with pediatric and OBGYN consultants in a government hospital, nurses from private primary and secondary hospitals, midwives from private birthing homes, and rural health workers.Results. Attitudes. All participants recognized that they had important roles in implementing the program except the OBGYN consultants as they felt that information about the UNHSP should be provided by pediatricians. Practices. The lack of a screening device, trained personnel, and a referral network were the most common barriers in implementing the program. Knowledge. Most participants lacked specific knowledge about hearing loss and its implications in the UNHSP.Conclusion. Most participants were able to determine the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the UNHSP. However, less than half of the participants admitted to have an established protocol to give access to newborn hearing screening services. Establishment of an information dissemination protocol and materials may be beneficial in the absence of funding for screening devices.

Implementation of Newborn Hearing Screening in Rizal, Philippines, and Northern California: Lessons Learned

“…The current study aimed to characterize the implementation of UNHSP in Rizal province and Northern California. As with previous findings 30 , there is a significant need to disseminate information about newborn hearing screening among healthcare practitioners, including clear roles in implementing the program and directories for confirmatory diagnosis and intervention. This is in conjunction with the lack of regional surveillance data that can be the basis for innovations and interventions for service delivery.…”

“…"So sabi ng isang ano na-attendan ko na Pedia, dapat daw since mahal naman daw talaga yang Hearing Test na yan, turuan nalang daw mga midwife na pumalakpak." (A pediatrician in a seminar I attended told us that since newborn hearing screening is expensive, midwives should be taught to clap instead) -49, female, Midwife, and Birthing Home Owner Building upon the findings by Rozul, Gregorio, and Chiong's 30 , one of the prevalent challenges in Rizal include the lack of specific knowledge on implementing UNHSP; this includes knowledge on risk factors, age of hearing detection, stop criteria, submission of records to NHSRC, and referrals after the detection of hearing loss. Participants of the FGD suggested the provision of directories of diagnostic and intervention centers and fact sheets.…”

Pilot Implementation of a Computer-based Training Course on Newborn Hearing Screening and Teleaudiology among Primary Healthcare Providers in Low Resource Settings

“…These require mid-level cognitive processing (application and analysis). 45,46 Rozul, Yarza, and Ombao 22,47 emphasized the importance of the mastery of these key concepts as a competency of screeners, adding weight on assigned points for these items in the online adaptation of the NHS certification course. In practical applications, it is best measured as a procedural skill.…”

Pilot Implementation of a Community-based, eHealth-enabled Service Delivery Model for Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention in the Philippines

“…This observation is consistent with another local study, which reported lack of knowledge on the rationale and implementation of the UNHSI program among healthcare practitioners. 14 These findings are not surprising. Whilst the DOH (and the NHSRC) through its regional offices, might have campaigned for the UNHSI program, these RHUs were not enabled with capacity for NHS (no investments in training screeners, absence of NHS equipment).…”