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Abstract

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis GroupIntroduction: This study aimed at establishing the reliability and validity of the primary health questionnaire (PHQ-15) somatic symptom severity subscale for postpartum women. Methods: Women (N = 495) completed the PHQ-15 approximately 6 weeks postpartum during the baseline phase of a randomized 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 analyzes 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.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published online by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology on 20/02/2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/0167482X.2017.1289167.
Publisher Keywords:	Postpartum, pregnancy, physical health, PHQ-15, symptoms
Subjects:	R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services R Medicine > RT Nursing
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Nursing
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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