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Evaluating patient's knowledge of maternal serum screening
V Goel1, R Glazier, S Holzapfel
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Prenatal Diagnosis
|May 1, 1996
Summary
A new Maternal Serum Screening Knowledge Questionnaire (MSSKQ) was developed to assess understanding of maternal serum screening (MSS). Higher scores were linked to increased age, education, income, and access to information.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Medical Education
- Health Literacy
Background:
- Maternal serum screening (MSS) is a critical component of prenatal care.
- Accurate knowledge of MSS is essential for informed decision-making.
- Existing tools for assessing MSS knowledge were limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a reliable instrument for assessing knowledge about maternal serum screening (MSS).
- To evaluate the characteristics and initial use of the developed questionnaire.
- To compare knowledge scores across different socio-demographic groups and information sources.
Main Methods:
- Development involved literature review, expert opinion, and extensive pre-testing of items.
- A 14-item scale, the Maternal Serum Screening Knowledge Questionnaire (MSSKQ), was finalized.
- The MSSKQ was administered to 1084 women at a maternal registration clinic.
Main Results:
- The MSSKQ demonstrated reliability and good content/construct validity.
- Knowledge scores positively correlated with age, education, and family income.
- Discussing MSS and receiving written materials significantly increased knowledge scores.
Conclusions:
- The MSSKQ is a valuable tool for assessing patient knowledge and informed consent regarding MSS.
- The questionnaire can aid in evaluating the effectiveness of MSS programs.
- Identifying factors influencing knowledge can improve patient education strategies.