Current screening instruments related to alcohol consumption in pregnancy and a proposed alternative method.

Christine Savage, Janet Wray, P. Neal Ritchey, Marilyn Sommers, Janice Dyehouse, Meg Fulmer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Because alcohol is a known teratogenic substance that negatively affects the fetus, screening for alcohol use is included in maternal child texts for nurses. They present no standard screening approach, however. In the general literature, a multitude of screening instruments exist for the purpose of detecting maternal alcohol dependence but few allow the nurse to detect fetal alcohol exposure in the absence of maternal alcohol dependence. After a comparative analysis of existing screening instruments, we concluded that the Timeline Followback method has the most utility as a screening instrument to detect fetal exposure to alcohol. The purpose of this article is to present a critical review of current screening instruments related to alcohol consumption in pregnant women and to propose the use of the Timeline Followback method as the preferred approach.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)437-446
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN / NAACOG
Volume32
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics
  • Critical Care
  • Maternity and Midwifery

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