Table 1 Quality indicators and related benchmarks assessed in our study
From: Evaluating reporting and process quality of publications on UNHS: a systematic review of programmes
ID | Indicator | Benchmark | Source | Numerator | Denominator | Dimension |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Recruitment | ≥95 % | AAPa, 1999 and JCIH, 2007 | Number of neonates that have a hearing screening test by 1 month of age | Number of neonates | Universality |
Percentage of newborns who complete screening by 1 month of age | ||||||
2 | Adherence | ≥70 % | AAP, 1999, JCIH, 2000 | Number of neonates positive at the first screening test minus neonates who do not complete further testing (lost to follow-up) | Number of neonates positive at the first screening test | Universality |
Follow-up rate | ||||||
3 | Timely definitive audiological evaluation | ≥90 % | JCIH, 2007 | Number of neonates undergoing definitive audiological evaluation by 3 months of age | Number of neonates undergoing a definitive audiological evaluation due to failed screening tests | Timely detection |
Percentage of newborns who complete audiological evaluation by 3 months of age | ||||||
4a | High-risk measured prevalence | 2 % - 5 % (available prevalence rates [5]) | Data from Scientific literature | Number of screened neonates with audiological risk factors identified with hearing loss after definitive audiological evaluation | Number of screened neonates with audiological risk factors (at net of the lost to follow-up) | Timely detection |
Observed prevalence in high-risk population | ||||||
4b | Low-risk measured prevalence | Not available (N.A.) | N.A. | Number of screened neonates without any audiological risk factor identified with hearing loss after definitive audiological evaluation | Number of screened neonates without any audiological risk factors (at net of all the lost to follow-up) | Timely detection |
Observed prevalence in low-risk population | ||||||
4c | Overall measured prevalence | Data from scientific literature | Number of screened neonates (with and without audiological risk factors) identified with hearing loss after definitive audiological evaluation | Number of screened neonates with or without audiological risk factors (at net of the lost to follow-up) | Timely detection | |
Observed prevalence for whole population | ||||||
5 | Referral rate at discharge | a) 5-20 % (for only otoemissions) | Adapted from AAP, 1999 | Number of screened neonates with a positive test at the last screening test prior to hospital discharge | Number of screened neonates | Overreferral |
Referral rate before leaving the hospital | ||||||
b) 4 % (when ABR is also used) | ||||||
6 | Referral rate for definitive audiological testing after screening | <4 % | AAP, 1999 and JCIH, 2007 | Number of children sent to a definitive audiological evaluation | Number of screened neonates (at net of all those lost to follow-up) | Overreferral |
Percentage of all newborn infants who fail initial screening and fail any subsequent rescreening before definitive audiological evaluation; the recommended benchmark is less than 4 %. | ||||||
7 | False-positive rate | ≤3 % | Adapted from AAP, 1999 | Number of neonates with positive test at last screening test who have a negative definitive audiological evaluation (false positives) | Number of screened neonates without disease (false positive plus true negativeb) at net of all those lost to follow-up. | Resource consumption |
False-positive rate related to the entire screening process |