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Does structured counselling influence combined hormonal contraceptive choice?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of structured counselling on women's contraceptive decisions and to evaluate gynaecologists’ perceptions of comprehensive contraceptive counselling. METHODS: Belgian women (18–40 years old) who were considering using a combined hormonal contraceptive (CHC) were c...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Merckx, Mireille, Donders, Gilbert G, Grandjean, Pascale, Van de Sande, Tine, Weyers, Steven
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Informa Healthcare 2011
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3250999/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22066890
http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/13625187.2011.625882
Descripción
Sumario:OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of structured counselling on women's contraceptive decisions and to evaluate gynaecologists’ perceptions of comprehensive contraceptive counselling. METHODS: Belgian women (18–40 years old) who were considering using a combined hormonal contraceptive (CHC) were counselled by their gynaecologists about available CHCs (combined oral contraceptive [COC], transdermal patch, vaginal ring), using a comprehensive leaflet. Patients and gynaecologists completed questionnaires that gathered information on the woman's pre- and post-counselling contraceptive choice, her perceptions, and the reasons behind her post-counselling decision. RESULTS: The gynaecologists (N = 121) enrolled 1801 eligible women. Nearly all women (94%) were able to choose a method after counselling (53%, 5%, and 27% chose the COC, the patch, and the ring, respectively). Counselling made many women (39%) select a different method: patch use increased from 3% to 5% (p < 0.0001); ring use tripled (from 9% to 27%, p < 0.0001). Women who were undecided before counselling most often opted for the method their gynaecologist recommended, irrespective of counselling. CONCLUSION: Counselling allows most women to select a contraceptive method; a sizeable proportion of them decide on a method different from the one they initially had in mind. Gynaecologists’ preferences influenced the contraceptive choices of women who were initially undecided regarding the method to use.