Patients' knowledge of pregnancy-related issues in inflammatory bowel disease and validation of a novel assessment tool ('CCPKnow')

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) require complex therapeutic decisions and life choices concerning pregnancy, but little is known about patient's knowledge of IBD and its treatment before and during pregnancy.

Aim: To develop a novel tool (Crohn's and Colitis Pregnancy Knowledge Score 'CCPKnow') to assess knowledge of pregnancy-related issues in IBD. The validated tool was then applied to determine knowledge in patients.

Method: Discriminate ability of 'CCPKnow' was validated in four groups with different levels of IBD knowledge. Reliability and readability were tested by Cronbach-α and Flesch-Kencaid. Construct validity was subsequently assessed against general IBD knowledge (CCKnow) in 145 women with IBD. Associations between patient factors and knowledge were studied.

Results: Median CCPKnow scores differed significantly between the validation groups (P < 0.001). CCPKnow displayed excellent internal consistency, reliability (Cronbach-α 0.94), readability (reading age 9 years) and close correlation with CCKnow (Spearman's ρ 0.64; P < 0.001). Of 145 patients, 44.8% had poor, 27.6% adequate, 17.3% good and only 10.3% very good knowledge. Better knowledge was associated with Caucasian ethnicity, higher income, having a partner, having children, Crohn's and Colitis Association membership, longer disease duration and Crohn's disease.

Conclusions: Crohn's and Colitis Pregnancy Knowledge Score, a novel knowledge assessment tool of pregnancy and IBD, demonstrated excellent test characteristics. We found that nearly half of the women with IBD had poor knowledge, identifying a pressing need for better education.

© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.