Assessing antenatal psychosocial health. Randomized controlled trial of two versions of the ALPHA form.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether participants preferred a provider-completed or self-reported antenatal psychosocial health assessment (ALPHA) form, to evaluate the forms' effectiveness in facilitating disclosure of psychosocial issues, and to determine whether different providers gathered different information.


METHODS
Randomized controlled study.


METHODS
Offices of family physicians and public health nurses (PHNs) in three health regions on Prince Edward Island.


METHODS
Physicians, PHNs, and 76 pregnant women.


METHODS
Participants completed one form and a questionnaire on theirexperience. Providers were also interviewed.


METHODS
Suitability and effectiveness of the forms and frequency of issues disclosed by type of form and provider.


RESULTS
Most participants would recommend routine use of the ALPHA form for all pregnant women. Of the 238 psychosocial issues disclosed, significantly more were disclosed to physicians than to PHNs.


CONCLUSIONS
Both forms were acceptable to women and providers (no clear preference emerged) and were effective at gathering information. Physicians gathered significantly more information than PHNs.
Midmer
Deana
D
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario. deana.midmer@utoronto.ca
Bryanton
Janet
J
Brown
Rona
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008603:Mental Health; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure