Supporting decisions about genomic newborn screening at scale in the digital age: the BabyScreen+ study

Digital platforms hold promise to scale implementation of population screening. We tailored the Genetics Adviser platform to provide education, decision support, consent, and result return in a genomic newborn screening (gNBS) study, BabyScreen+. Participants were surveyed and interviewed on the usability and value of Genetics Adviser.Genetics Adviser was used by 1048 participants and 1007 (96%) provided feedback. The majority (96%, n = 963) found the platform easy to navigate, with 85% (n = 851) spending < 20 minutes online. Participants demonstrated excellent understanding, over 80% answering at least 6/8 knowledge questions correctly. Only 7% (12/173) of participant-initiated contacts with the study team were for genetic counselling. Interview participants valued the online process.We demonstrate the successful use of a digital platform for a genomic screening program. This model is streamlined, providing consistent, user-friendly education to support decision-making with minimal input from healthcare practitioners. Further evaluation in diverse populations will be essential for future use.