Wilkie, Stephanie, Crawley, Rosalind, Button, Susan, Thornton, Alexandra and Ayers, Susan (2017) Assessing physical symptoms during the perinatal period: Reliability and validity of the Primary Health Questionnaire Somatic Symptom Subscale (PHQ-15). Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, 39 (1). pp. 56-63. ISSN 0167-482X (Print), 1743-8942 (Online) (doi:10.1080/0167482X.2017.1289167)

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Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to establish the reliability and validity of the Primary Health Questionnaire Somatic Symptom Severity Subscale (PHQ-15) for postpartum women.

Methods: Women (N = 495) completed the PHQ-15 approximately six weeks postpartum during the baseline phase of a randomised controlled trial evaluating a writing intervention for postnatal health in England. Reliability was assessed using internal consistency statistics and convergent validity by comparing differences in self-reported physical health, health-related quality of life (QoL), and primary care usage by PHQ-15 symptom severity category.

Results: Cronbach’s α for the PHQ-15 was 0.73 and item-total statistics met recommended guidelines. Validity analyses showed 6% of women reported severe symptoms, 17% medium, 50% low, and 27% minimal symptoms. Women with severe symptoms reported poorer overall physical health, poorer physical health-related QoL, and greater use of primary care. Women with severe symptoms also rated their baby’s health as worse and used primary care more for their baby.

Discussion: This study suggests the PHQ-15 has the potential to be a useful and valid measure of physical symptoms in postpartum women in high-income countries.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Postpartum; Pregnancy; Symptoms; Physical health; PHQ-15
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Health Sciences (HEA) Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Health & Society Research Group
Last Modified:	12 Jun 2019 16:33
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/16208

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