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 dimensions (biography, self esteem, reproduction/contraception. partnership, decision 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 ligation, and in 58 women seeking tubal ligation. Results: The scores differed significantly among the groups (5.4 vs. 9.1 and 9.3, respectively; p < 0.01). 41 of the 43 patients seeking IVF scored <less than or equal to>7, compared with 2 of the 56 after tubal ligation. Thus, the sensitivity and specificity of the scores is 96% and 95%, respectively. 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 predicting psychologic coping with tubal ligation is satisfactory. It is easily applied in clinical practice by medical personnel without specific training.