New standardized tool for measuring prenatal cannabis use shows high accuracy against urine testing

The CEPT demonstrated excellent psychometric properties: convergent validity (kappa=0.72-1.0), high internal consistency (alpha=0.92), very good 3-month test-retest reliability (weighted kappa=0.92), and 100% sensitivity with 82% specificity against urine THC bioassay.

Mixed-methods tool development study with 254 pregnant women in Alberta, Canada. Included environmental scan of existing tools, in-depth interviews, cognitive interviewing, and psychometric validation including convergent/discriminant validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and external validation against urine THC testing.

Research on prenatal cannabis effects has been limited by inconsistent measurement. Without a standardized tool, studies measure cannabis use differently, making it hard to compare findings. CEPT addresses this by capturing frequency, timing, dose, and mode of use.

Cannabis use during pregnancy is a growing research topic, but crude measurement (e.g., "any use vs. no use") limits the field. CEPT captures multiple dimensions of exposure, which could help researchers identify more precisely which patterns of use carry the most risk.

Validated in an Alberta, Canada sample that may not represent other populations. Self-reported tool, even though validated against bioassay. The 82% specificity means some false positives. Cultural and legal context may affect disclosure willingness.