Abstract
Background
We evaluated whether computerized counseling about contraceptive options and screening
for contraindications increased women's subsequent knowledge and use of hormonal contraception.
Methods
For the study 814 women aged 18���45 years were recruited from the waiting rooms of
three emergency departments and an urgent care clinic staffed by non-gynecologists
and asked to use a randomly selected computer module before seeing a clinician.
Results
Women in the intervention group were more likely to report receiving a contraceptive
prescription when seeking acute care than women in the control group (16% vs. 1%,
p=.001). Women who requested contraceptive refills were not less likely than women
requesting new prescriptions to have potential contraindications to estrogen (75%
of refills vs. 52% new, p=.23). Three months after visiting the clinic, women in the
intervention group tended to be more likely to have used contraception at last intercourse
(71% vs. 65%, p=.91) and to correctly answer questions about contraceptive effectiveness,
but these differences were not statistically significant.
Conclusion
Patient-facing computers appear to increase access to prescription contraception for
women seeking acute care.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 27, 2012
Accepted:
July 7,
2012
Received:
June 21,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
