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.