Background:
Advances in cancer biology and early detection research have prompted increasing interest in the potential role of newborn screening in the early identification of childhood cancer. Although such approaches remain proposed and are not currently implemented, their consideration within public health systems depends on more than technical feasibility alone. Public acceptability, ethical considerations, and trust are central to the responsible development of early detection strategies. Linguistic minority populations may encounter distinct challenges related to communication and inclusion, yet their perspectives remain underrepresented in discussions surrounding emerging screening innovations.

Objectives:
The objective of this pilot study is to examine citizen perspectives on the acceptability of proposed newborn screening for childhood cancer among French-speaking minority populations in Canada, with particular attention to perceived benefits, concerns, and considerations relevant to inclusive and responsible policy development.

Methods:
A pilot mixed-methods study is being conducted among members of French-speaking minority communities in Ottawa, Canada, using a survey that includes both closed-ended items and open-ended questions. Participants are provided with a standardized description of a hypothetical newborn screening approach for childhood cancer and invited to reflect on its acceptability, perceived value, potential risks, and ethical implications. Quantitative survey responses and qualitative open-ended data are analyzed to identify patterns and themes related to public understanding, trust, communication needs, and the conditions under which such a screening approach may be considered acceptable from a citizen perspective. This pilot study is being conducted in parallel with related research examining public perspectives on newborn screening for cancer predisposition syndromes at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), offering complementary insights into acceptability considerations across different institutional and community contexts.

Results:
Data collection and analysis are currently underway, with results expected to be available by the time of the conference. This pilot study is designed to generate preliminary insights into factors shaping public acceptability of proposed newborn screening for childhood cancer within French-speaking minority contexts.

Conclusions/Implications for practice or policy:
By foregrounding citizen perspectives from French-speaking minority populations, this pilot study contributes to evidence-informed dialogue on the responsible development of early detection strategies within newborn screening frameworks. The findings are expected to support policy-relevant discussions on how emerging innovations may be considered within public health systems in ways that are transparent, inclusive, and ethically grounded. Although situated within a Canadian French-speaking minority context, this work may inform broader considerations of public acceptability and communication for early detection strategies among linguistic minority populations internationally.