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. Study Design 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. Conclusion 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.