Assessing antenatal psychosocial health. Randomized controlled trial of two versions of the ALPHA form

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether participants preferred a provider-completed or self-reported antenatal psychosocial health assessment (ALPHA) form, to evaluate the forms' effectiveness in facilitating disclosure of psychosocial issues, and to determine whether different providers gathered different information. DESIGN: Randomized controlled study. SETTING: Offices of family physicians and public health nurses (PHNs) in three health regions on Prince Edward Island. PARTICIPANTS: Physicians, PHNs, and 76 pregnant women. INTERVENTIONS: Participants completed one form and a questionnaire on theirexperience. Providers were also interviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Suitability and effectiveness of the forms and frequency of issues disclosed by type of form and provider. RESULTS: Most participants would recommend routine use of the ALPHA form for all pregnant women. Of the 238 psychosocial issues disclosed, significantly more were disclosed to physicians than to PHNs. CONCLUSION: Both forms were acceptable to women and providers (no clear preference emerged) and were effective at gathering information. Physicians gathered significantly more information than PHNs.