Mothers' experiences of maternity services: internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the Greek translation of the Kuopio Instrument for Mothers.

OBJECTIVE: the Kuopio Instrument for Mothers (KIM) questionnaire assesses mothers' experiences of maternity services during pregnancy and delivery. The aim of this study was to translate the questionnaire into Greek, and to evaluate the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the Greek version of the KIM. METHODS: 77 mothers completed both the test and the retest questionnaire. The KIM includes the Utah Test for the Childbearing Year (UTCY) and four other scales. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients, kappa coefficients (kappa) and Pearson correlation coefficients (r). FINDINGS: strong correlation (r = 0.793, p < 0.001) was found between the total test mean score (88.22 + or - 5.82) and the total retest mean score (87.49 + or - 6.16) for the UTCY. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.74 for the UTCY to 0.75 for the 26-item scale on discussion of topics in maternity welfare clinics, 0.85 for the 10-item scale on mother-obstetrician collaboration, 0.94 for the 14-item scale on mother-midwife collaboration, and 0.55 for the seven-item scale on provision of services for women. The kappa coefficients ranged from 0.325 to 0.924. CONCLUSIONS: the questionnaire appears to be a reliable measure of mothers' experiences in the Greek population. Further studies are needed to refine the instrument.

Serum CA 125 combined with transvaginal ultrasonography for ovarian cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the combination of serum CA125 and Transvaginal Ultra Sonography (TVUS) score, as a screening procedure for ovarian cancer in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control pilot study was conducted. The files of 120 women with ovarian neoplasia detected by TVUS and increased CA125 level, within the framework of a prevention program, were reviewed. The relationship between the above tests and epithelial malignancy was investigated using the SPSS-12 program for Windows. RESULTS: The combination of CA125 value exceeding 30U/ml and a TVUS score > or = 35 had a sensitivity of 81.7% and specificity of 100% in predicting ovarian cancer. Mathematical analysis of the logistic model of our variables revealed a mathematical model that can calculate the likelihood of ovarian cancer detection, by using a combination of CA125 > or = 30U/ml and TVUS score > or = 35. CONCLUSION: By combining TVUS and CA125, an accurate prediction for the presence of ovarian cancer may be achieved. Further investigation in a larger population is warranted.