The provision of newborn screening: A conjoint analysis of women's preferences

Abstract

Context. There has been increasing attention concerning the use of DNA-based genetic tests in health care. Many have argued that the use of genetic technologies should be subject to public debate and scrutiny. However, few in the general population can offer views informed by actual experience with genetic services. Prenatal and newborn screening programs are examples of genetic services that are routinely offered to the general population. Objectives. To determine if conjoint analysis is a useful tool for eliciting user preferences for newborn screening services. Methods. Discrete choice conjoint analysis (CA). Results. Counterintuitive results identified issues concerning the validity of the CA instrument that was developed. As a result limitations to the usefulness of aggregate logit regression for the analysis of CA data were identified. Other analytical approaches, such as latent class analysis, merit further examination to determine their validity and the value of the information they may provide.