A comparison of standardized measures of psychosocial variables with single-item screening measures used in an urban obstetric clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To compare standardized, psychometrically sound measures of psychosocial variables and physical violence with single-item measures currently used for screening purposes in an obstetric clinic.


METHODS
Two hundred multiethnic women were interviewed during scheduled prenatal visits at an urban perinatal center. Participants previously completed a standard perinatal self-administered inventory, which included several single-item psychosocial questions. Medical and obstetric history, current risk factors, and intrapartum complications were collected from medical records.


RESULTS
Correlational analyses indicated that single-item self-report measures were more appropriate for certain types of variables than for others. Specifically, for anxiety, depression, and social support, single-item measures were significantly correlated with standardized, psychometrically sound measures, whereas this was not true for stress and domestic violence.


CONCLUSIONS
It may be appropriate to rely on self-reported single-item measures to detect some psychosocial risk factors in clinical settings for the purposes of referral. When assessing for domestic violence, single-item measures may not be adequate, as personal interviews using a standardized, psychometrically sound measure resulted in higher rates of reporting.
Sagrestano
Lynda M
LM
Department of Psychology at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901-6502, USA. sagresta@siu.edu
Rodriguez
Angela C
AC
Carroll
Doris
D
Bieniarz
Andre
A
Greenberg
Angela
A
Castro
Lony
L
Nuwayhid
Bahij
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D015146:Midwestern United States; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012015:Reference Standards; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*