Routine history as compared to audio computer-assisted self-interview for prenatal care history taking.
OBJECTIVE
To compare endorsement rates obtained with audio computer-assisted self-interview versus routine prenatal history.


METHODS
A crosssectional study compared items captured with the routine history to those captured with a computer interview (computer screen displaying and computer audio reading questions, with responses entered by touch screen). The subjects were women (n=174) presenting to a public hospital clinic for prenatal care.


RESULTS
The prevalence of positive responses using the computer interview was significantly greater (p < 0.01) than with the routine history for induced abortion (16.8% versus 4.0%), lifetime smoking (12.8% versus 5.2%), intimate partner violence (10.0% versus 2.4%), ectopic pregnancy (5.2% versus 1.1%) and family history of mental retardation (6.7% versus 0.6%). Significant differences were not found for history of spontaneous abortion, hypertension, epilepsy, thyroid disease, smoking during pregnancy, gynecologic surgery, abnormal Pap test, neural tube defect or cystic fibrosis family history. However, in all cases, prevalence was equal or greater with the computer interview.


CONCLUSIONS
Women were more likely to report sensitive and high-risk behavior, such as smoking history, intimate partner violence and elective abortion, with the computer interview. The computer interview displayed equal or increased patient reporting of positive responses and may therefore be an accurate method of obtaining an initial history.
Mears
Molly
M
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health and Academic Affairs, Maricopa Integrated Health System/MedPro, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Coonrod
Dean V
DV
Bay
R Curtis
RC
Mills
Terry E
TE
Watkins
Michelle C
MC
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D003201:Computers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012907:Smoking; D013179:Spouse Abuse; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014584:User-Computer Interface