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Development of the Delivery Fear Scale
1Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Health and Environment, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, S-581 85 Linköping, Sweden. klaas.wijma@imk.liu.se
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology
|August 23, 2002
Summary
The Delivery Fear Scale (DFS) effectively measures labor and delivery fear using ten items. This reliable scale is quick to complete, aiding in understanding maternal anxiety during childbirth.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Obstetrics
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Fear during labor and delivery is a significant concern for many women.
- Existing measures may not fully capture the nuances of childbirth-related anxiety.
- A validated tool is needed to assess this specific fear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and psychometrically test the Delivery Fear Scale (DFS).
- To create a reliable and valid instrument for measuring fear during labor and delivery.
- To explore the content and appraisal basis of labor-related fear.
Main Methods:
- Initial item pool generation from 92 women in labor.
- Item selection using item-total analysis.
- Psychometric testing and content validation through semi-structured interviews with 45 women.
Main Results:
- The final Delivery Fear Scale (DFS) consists of ten items.
- Content analysis revealed fear appraisals related to "being captured" as dominant.
- The DFS demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88) in both studies.
- The scale is quick to administer (60-90 seconds).
Conclusions:
- The Delivery Fear Scale (DFS) is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring fear during labor and delivery.
- The DFS can be easily administered in clinical settings.
- The scale aids in understanding specific fear appraisals related to childbirth.