Development and Initial Validity Evidence for a Pregnancy Disclosure and Options Counseling Checklist in Emergency Medicine

Abstract

Background

Many patients first learn of a pregnancy in the emergency department (ED). However, limited ED physician knowledge in pregnancy disclosure and options counseling may contribute to challenges in patient care and potential missed opportunities for timely access to reproductive care. No standardized instruments exist to teach or assess this important communication skill for the ED physicians. This study aimed to develop and collect validity evidence for a checklist for effective pregnancy disclosure and options counseling by ED physicians in an environment with unrestricted access to comprehensive reproductive care.

Methods

A prospective checklist creation and validity evidence collection study was conducted, involving literature review, expert input through a modified Delphi process, and pilot testing with ED faculty and residents at an urban academic medical center. We structured the validity evidence collection process using Messick's criteria for construct validity, addressing content, response process, internal structure, and relations to other variables. Data analysis focused on collecting validity evidence, including inter-rater reliability and participant performance assessment based on faculty or resident status.

Results

The study resulted in a final 17-item checklist for pregnancy disclosure and options counseling in the ED. Pilot testing with 20 participants (eight faculty members and 12 residents) revealed high overall inter-rater reliability with almost perfect agreement (kappa = 0.81) and acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88). Checklist scores showed no significant difference across standardized patients, indicating consistency. Faculty members outperformed residents, suggesting concurrent validity based on levels of clinical experience.

Conclusions

Preliminary validity evidence supports the use of this novel checklist to assess physician competency in pregnancy disclosure and options counseling in the ED. Given the frequency of new pregnancy encounters in the ED and the dynamic changes to pregnant patients’ reproductive rights, enhancing physician education in these areas is critical for optimizing patient care and autonomy.