Development of a Tool to Identify Poverty in a Family Practice Setting: A Pilot Study

Table 2

Results of univariate analysis for proposed case-finding questions.

Survey questions*	Above LICO; no. (%)	Below LICO; no. (%)	Total valid; no. (%)	Sensitivity; % (95% CI)	Specificity; % (95% CI)
(Q1) In the past year, was there any day when you or anyone in your family went hungry because you did not have enough money for food?; Answer: Yes	5 (5.6%)	32 (64%)	37 (25.8%)	64 (55.2–69.4)	94.6 (89.9–97.5)
(Q2) Can you afford to eat balanced meals?; Answer: Rarely/Never	1 (1.1%)	13 (25.5%)	14 (9.6%)	25.5 (19.2–27.1)	98.9 (95.5–99.8)
(Q3) After paying your monthly bills, do you typically have enough money left over for food?; Answer: No	9 (9.9%)	27 (60%)	36 (26.4%)	60.6 (49.6–68)	90.1 (85–94.1)
(Q4) In the last month, have you slept outside, in a shelter, or in a place not meant for sleeping?; Answer: Always → Rarely	4 (4.3%)	20 (39.2%)	24 (16.5%)	39.2 (31.1–43.8)	95.7 (91.4–98.2)
(Q5) Do you ever worry about losing your place to live?; Answer: Always → Rarely	36 (38.3%)	44 (86.3%)	80 (55.1%)	86.3 (76.4–92.8)	61.7 (56.4–65.3)
(Q6) How many times have you moved in the last year? Answer: 3 or more times	3 (3.2%)	17 (33.3%)	20 (13.7%)	33.3 (25.8–37)	96.8 (92.7–98.9)
(Q7) Do you have difficulty making ends meet at the end of the month?; Answer: Always → Rarely	55 (59.8%)	48 (98%)	103 (73.0%)	98 (90.4–99.6)	40.2 (36.2–41.1)
(Q8) Considering your current income, how difficult is it to make ends meet?; Answer: Difficult	25 (27.2%)	38 (77.6%)	63 (44.6%)	77.6 (66.9–85.9)	72.8 (67.2–77.3)
(Q9) Do you have enough money to get by?; Answer: Rarely/Never	5 (5.4%)	18 (36.7%)	23 (16.3%)	36.7 (28.2–42.2)	94.6 (90–97.5)

*Three job security questions present in survey were poorly performing and excluded from full analysis.