Participant views and experiences of sexual health research: The Contraception Choices online trial

BACKGROUND: Online sexual health research can be convenient, efficient and low cost, but there are debates about the adequacy of online informed consent, privacy, and the acceptability of different methods of follow-up. OBJECTIVES: To explore women's views and experiences of the Contraception Choices feasibility trial procedures and the place of digital interventions for contraception decision making. METHODS: We analysed data from two sources: (1) Qualitative interviews. Eighteen interviews were conducted with women who had taken part in the Contraception Choices pre-trial feasibility study, to evaluate recruitment and online trial procedures. (2) Free-text comments. Women in the main Contraception Choices randomised controlled trial were followed up at 3 and 6 months, and asked ‘Please tell us what you liked or disliked about the website’ and ‘Has being in the study had any good or bad effects on your life?’ A total of 387 and 414 comments were made at 3 and 6 months respectively. Data were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Participants liked being involved in a study about contraception, although recruitment from an abortion clinic was less acceptable than in other sexual health settings. Women found the trial procedures straightforward, and expressed no major concerns about online self-registration, informed consent or online data collection. Online survey questions about contraception and fertility were acceptable, and participants liked the convenience of being followed up by email or text. CONCLUSIONS: Participants appreciated the advantages of the online research design and did not express concerns about consent or privacy. Women would welcome digital interventions for contraception in a variety of settings.