This project develops a contraceptive counseling protocol (CCP) grounded in scientific evidence and evaluates the CCP for promoting behaviors conducive to preventing unintended pregnancy among women. The project develops and refines the CCP using focus groups and in-depth interviews with (a) key administrators in the national office of Planned Parenthood (b) key administrators in participating Title X clinics, (c) contraceptive counselors, and (d) clients of the health centers. The CCP uses scientifically grounded principles for guiding effective decision making and provider-client communication. Ten Title X clinics are randomly assigned to one of two conditions (5 clinics per condition): (1) treatment as usual (TAU) or (2) implementation of the CCP. Approximately 150 women are selected for study participation in each clinic, yielding about 1,400 participants (half control and half CCP). Immediately following their counseling session, women complete a computer-administered interview that serves as a fidelity check and permits evaluation of the effects of the CCP on variables associated with counseling satisfaction. All women are re-interviewed by phone 6 months later and 12 months later. The effect of the CCP on method-choice effectiveness, method switching, gaps in protection, and use accuracy are evaluated.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
1,418
Counselors underwent training on the use of 10 best practices for contraceptive counseling.
New York University, Silver School of Social Work
New York, New York, United States
Patient satisfaction with counselors as assessed by 5 point Likert rating scales using questionnaire designed for this study at immediate posttest.
Time frame: immediately after counseling session
Patient satisfaction with counseling session as assessed by 5 point Likert rating scales using a questionnaire designed for this study at immediate posttest.
Time frame: immediately after counseling session
Patient satisfaction with clinic experience overall as assessed by 5 point Likert rating scales using a questionnaire designed for this study at immediate posttest.
Time frame: immediately after counseling session
Patient satisfaction with clinic experience overall as assessed by 5 point Likert rating scales using a questionnaire designed for this study at 6 months.
Time frame: 6 months from initial clinic visit
Patient satisfaction with clinic experience overall as assessed by 5 point Likert rating scales using a questionnaire designed for this study at 12 months.
Time frame: one year from initial clinic visit
Type of contraceptive method currently using (including none and dual use) as assessed by a questionnaire designed for this study (e.g., what method of birth control are you currently using).
Time frame: six months to one year from initial clinic visit
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