A prognostic score for psychological coping with tubal ligation

Objective: Counselling patients seeking tubal ligation has potentially far- reaching psychosocial sequelae. We designed a prognostic scoring system to assess psychologic coping with tubal ligation. The score comprises 5 dimens ions (biography, self esteem, reproduction/contraception. partnership, deci sion process) with 3 categories each. Methods: The score was tested in three groups of women: 43 women seeking in vitro fertilization after tubal ligation, 56 women satisfied after tubal l igation, and in 58 women seeking tubal ligation. Results: The scores differed significantly among the groups (5.4 vs. 9.1 an d 9.3, respectively; p < 0.01). 41 of the 43 patients seeking IVF scored <l ess than or equal to>7, compared with 2 of the 56 after tubal ligation. Thu s, the sensitivity and specificity of the scores is 96% and 95%, respective ly. Six of eight patients seeking tubal ligation with a score less than or equal to7 did not undergo the procedure. Conclusion: The sensitivity and specificity of the scoring system for predi cting psychologic coping with tubal ligation is satisfactory. It is easily applied in clinical practice by medical personnel without specific training .