Developing the PEER-U scale to measure parents' expectations, experiences and reactions to routine ultrasound examinations during pregnancy

The aim of this study was to develop and test a specific questionnaire to measure parents' expectations, experiences and reactions in connection with routine ultrasound examinations during pregnancy. A questionnaire consisting of ultrasound specific questions was constructed in two parts, one to be used before and one after the examination. It was examined for face validity and a pilot study was then conducted with women and their partners (n=156). Explorative factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha were used to test validity and reliability. Factor analysis gave a solution where part one measures seven dimensions of expectations before the ultrasound examination and part two five dimensions of experiences and reactions. The dimensions that measured the parents' state of mind were used to calculate an index. The index was also compared to the results of State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC). The PEER-U questionnaire was tested and showed satisfactory validity and reliability. The ultrasound state of mind index can be used to measure the impact of an ultrasound examination on the parents, before and after this takes place.