Maureen B Teves
Jose R Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Philippines
Title: Caregiver compliance to confirmatory testing for G6pd deficiency at a tertiary government medical center
Biography
Biography: Maureen B Teves
Abstract
Background: Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an inherited condition that can lead to a spectrum of symptoms if exposure to offending agents is not prevented. The newborn screening is a useful tool that detects the presence of this condition, as is the confirmatory test. Non-compliance to confirmatory testing has been attributed to lack of time, poor understanding of the procedure and lack of money. Objective: To determine the compliance to confirmatory testing of patients who tested positive for G6PD Deficiency via Newborn Screening Test at a tertiary government medical center between the years 2013 to 2014. Methods:This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted among patients who were born and underwent newborn screening at a tertiary government medical center on January 2013 to December 2014. We conducted a follow-up survey using structured questionnaires over the phone to assess the compliance of the parents and caregivers to confirmatory testing. Results: Out of the 3,570 infants who were delivered at the medical center, 143 (4%) were positive for G6PD deficiency on newborn screening test. We were able to track 62 patients, of which 39 (62.9%) were able to comply with confirmatory testing. The most common reasons for non-compliance to confirmatory testing were the following: “busyness/lack of time” (47.83%), uninformed (21.74%), and lack of funds (21.74%). Conclusions:Reasons for non-compliance are lack of time, lack of knowledge and financial constraints. This shows that there is a need to improve the patient education programs of medical centers, particularly on the newborn screening program.