Newborn biliary atresia screening with the stool colour card: a questionnaire survey of parents

Abstract

PurposeBiliary atresia can easily be screened using a stool colour card (SCC) and has shown to significantly reduce time to diagnosis, improving children’s outcome. Despite the general approval of the clinical usefulness of the SCC, physicians remain reluctant: it might unnecessarily worry parents. This study aimed to analyse the parental reaction to this screening method and if it evokes parental stress.MethodsA semistructured questionnaire was sent to parents with one or more healthy child to inquire about reactions on receipt and use of the SCC.Results109/256 questionnaires were returned and evaluated (43%). 107/107 parents considered the SCC as helpful, a simple screening method and easy to use (100%). 26/43 were reassured when receiving the SCC (60%), 2 were worried (5%) and 9 had no particular feelings (21%). In 41/49, emotions experienced during its use were positive or neutral (84%), and 3 were worried (6%). In 41/50, the discussion with the paediatrician about stool colour-linked pathologies was neutral (82%), and 9 felt uneasy (18%).ConclusionA vast majority of parents appreciate the SCC. It creates uneasiness in a minority of parents. Our results are encouraging and argue in favour of implementing the regular distribution of the SCC in antenatal, postnatal and newborn infant clinics.

Province-Wide Stool Color Card Screening for Biliary Atresia in Lower-Saxony: Experiences with Passive Distribution Strategies and Results

“…Furthermore, attending pediatricians argued that SCC could unsettle parents, leading to numerous presentations in out-patient clinics and potentially resulting in unnecessary diagnostics. However, the authors in Borgeat et al recently presented the results of a survey of parents, showing that the vast majority considered the SCC helpful and simple, while only the minority reported on uneasiness using the SCC [ 20 ]. While the study group from Geneva faced similar reservations of Swiss physicians, blaming the SCC for parents anxiety, the authors concluded the exact opposite, emphasizing the benefits of an SCC screening [ 20 ].…”

Repeatability and Reliability of Home-Based Stool Color Card Screening for Biliary Atresia Based on Results in China and Japan

“…To our knowledge, in Japan, Taiwan, the Mainland of China, The Netherlands, Switzerland, German and Canada an original edition of SCC except for the Mainland of China was used (Matsui and Dodoriki 1995;Hsiao et al 2008;Kong et al 2016;Witt et al 2016;Borgeat et al 2018;Madadi-Sanjani et al 2019;Masucci et al 2019). The feasibility of screening has not been assessed or reported except that in Japan, Taiwan and the Mainland of China.…”

Biliary Atresia in 2021: Epidemiology, Screening and Public Policy

“…National BA screening programs using an SCC have been introduced in Switzerland and Japan [36,49]. Small pilot studies with the SCC have been conducted in regions or municipalities in Brazil [50], Cairo, Egypt [51], Shenzen (China) [52], Northern Portugal [53], and Lower Saxony Germany [54].…”