Advance notice of contraceptive availability at surgical abortion: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Issue 3 (18th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roe, Andrea H; Fortin, Jennifer; Gelfand, Danielle; Janiak, Elizabeth; Maurer, Rie; Goldberg, Alisa
• Is Part Of: BMJ sexual & reproductive health. Volume 44:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 187
• Page End: 192
• Publication Date: 2018-05-18
• Subjects: Post-abortion contraception -- long-acting reversible contraception -- contraception counselling -- contraceptive knowledge -- contraceptive autonomy; Reproductive health -- Periodicals; Sexual health -- Periodicals; Birth control -- Periodicals; Contraception -- Periodicals; 613.905
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjsrh-2017-200023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2515-1991

Abstract

Abstract : Background: With advance notice about the availability and effectiveness of contraceptive methods, abortion patients have more time and information for decision-making. We assessed the impact of an informational telephone call prior to the surgical abortion visit on patient contraceptive knowledge. Methods: This was a pilot randomised controlled trial. Prior to their abortion visit, participants were randomised to the intervention message, a standardised notification about the availability, effectiveness and safety of long-acting (LARC) and short-acting reversible contraception (SARC) on the day of the abortion, or to the control message, a reiteration of appointment logistics without information about contraception. At the visit, participants completed a pre-procedure survey to assess contraceptive knowledge and usefulness of the intervention. The primary outcome was knowledge of LARC availability immediately after surgical abortion. A secondary outcome was contraceptive method uptake. Results: We enrolled 234 subjects. The pre-visit telephone notification improved knowledge that LARC is available immediately after surgical abortion (71.3% vs 50.9%, P<0.01). Participants in both study arms found the telephone notifications useful. Post-abortion contraceptive method choice did not differ between study arms. Conclusions: Advance notice about contraception was acceptable to surgical abortion patients and improved their contraceptive knowledge. Trial registration number: NCT02836561 .