Introduction:

Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) consists of serious malformations that require early detection to reduce morbidity and mortality. Pulse oximetry is an effective screening tool, and recommendations for its application were updated in 2024.

Objective:

To evaluate the knowledge and application of current CCHD screening by healthcare professionals in institutions in Cali, Colombia.

Materials and methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional and observational study among professionals working with newborns in Cali, Colombia, in 2025. Structured surveys were administered regarding knowledge and application of CCHD screening. Descriptive statistics and statistical tests were used for comparisons between groups.

Results:

One hundred healthcare professionals were surveyed. Eighty percent reported performing newborn screening for CCHD, but only 78% had up-to-date knowledge of the test, and 38% had received training. Ninety-eight percent recognized the importance of screening in asymptomatic infants, 70% correctly identified the appropriate time for the test, and 58% knew the correct anatomical site for its performance. The correct interpretation of oxygen saturation values was identified by 56%, and the criterion for limb differences by 62%. Seventy-nine percent knew the indication for repeating the test, and 82% knew the indication for echocardiography. The average knowledge score was 5.3/9, with a median of 6/9.

Conclusion:

Although progress has been made in the implementation of neonatal screening for congenital heart disease, gaps in training and knowledge still exist. Given that pulse oximetry is an effective and cost-efficient tool, its proper implementation could contribute to reducing infant mortality.

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