The development and evaluation of a computerised antenatal questionnaire.

A computerised questionnaire, for convenience entitled "PAM" (Programmed Aid for use in Midwifery), was created for use at the time of first antenatal assessment. The system required simple direct input by the expectant mother; and in response to a short descriptive letter, 73.4% of 349 women were prepared to try the new method. The response of 100 consecutive women who tried the system was further analysed. Seventy women liked PAM, four disliked the technique and the remainder had no strong feelings. Asked by the midwife which they would prefer, 46 women expressed a preference for the computer questionnaire and only nine would rather have had a traditional interview with a midwife asking the same questions. PAM or similar systems provide a new opportunity, both for research and as a means of reliably decentralizing the initial assessment of a pregnancy.