Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-16-2018
Abstract
Introduction
Many health care providers believe that women who initiate long‐acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) discontinue the method because of side effects too soon for the method to be economical. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement and evaluate an evidence‐based telephone triage nursing guideline for management of side effects of LARC with an ultimate goal of reducing the number of early discontinuations.
Process
A telephone triage guideline was adapted from the Contraceptive Choice Project's Clinician Call Back System, supplemented with evidence‐based resources, and approved by clinicians at 2 community women's health and midwifery offices. Baseline retrospective data were collected on all women over the age of 18 who had LARC inserted at the 2 sites in the year prior to guideline implementation and in the 3 months after implementation. Rates of LARC removal at or before 3 months postinsertion, before and after guideline implementation, were evaluated.
Outcomes
Approximately 1 in 5 women called for help managing LARC side effects. Of the callers, 3 of 32 (9.4%) women receiving standard care discontinued their LARC prior to 3 months, whereas 0 of 24 women who were triaged using the guideline discontinued their LARC prior to 3 months (P = .12). Cramping, bleeding, and malposition or expulsion were the most common concerns and reasons for discontinuation.
Discussion
Fewer women than anticipated called to report side effects, and even fewer chose to discontinue their LARC early. There were fewer discontinuations with guideline use, but this was not a statistically significant difference. Most women did not discontinue their LARC early for any reason, including side effects.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.12925
Publication Information
Jacobson, Julia; Nasso, Jacqueline; and Glantz, J. Christopher (2018). "Use of an Evidence‐Based Guideline for Management of Side Effects from Long‐Acting Reversible Contraceptives: A Quality Improvement Report." Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health 64.2, 225-229.
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Comments
This is the pre-peer-reviewed version of the following article: Jacobson, J., Nasso, J. and Glantz, J. C. (2019), Use of an Evidence‐Based Guideline for Management of Side Effects from Long‐Acting Reversible Contraceptives: A Quality Improvement Report. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 64: 225-229, which has been published in final form at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.12925