Provider-based barriers to provision of intrauterine contraception in general practice

Hoggart, Lesley; Walker, Susan; Newton, Victoria and Parker, Mike (2018). Provider-based barriers to provision of intrauterine contraception in general practice. BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health, 44(2) pp. 82–89.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsrh-2017-101805

Abstract

Objectives Intrauterine contraception (IUC) is highly effective, safe and long-lasting, but is not a popular method of contraception amongst British women. This research examines barriers to the uptake of IUC in a general practice setting in England.
Method A sequential mixed-method approach to explore the views of practitioners regarding the provision of IUC. We e-surveyed 208 practitioners from 69 practices in a region of England and subsequently interviewed 14 practitioners from 8 practices.
Results Just under half of GPs (46.8%; 58/124), and only 8.2% (4/49) of nurses, reported being trained to fit IUC. Lack of knowledge of IUC was a barrier to fitting, and also to recommending IUC, especially by practitioners who were not trained to fit. There was discordance between reported knowledge of eligibility for IUC and the likelihood of recommending IUC. Respondents were less likely to recommend IUC to young, nulliparous women, women who had experienced a previous ectopic pregnancy, a recent STI, or abnormal cervical smear. The qualitative data indicate that risk aversion and limited training sitting alongside practitioners’ assessments that women are uninterested, may lead to IUC being overlooked as a suitable method.
Conclusion Increased practitioner education, for those not trained to fit IUC, may remove a barrier to the uptake of IUC in General Practice. More research is required on the discordance between the practitioners’ views on the characteristics of women considered suitable for IUC, and the criteria set out in the UK Medical Eligibility Criteria (UKMEC) guidelines.

Viewing alternatives

Metrics

Item Actions

Export

You can export this page using these formats Digital Object Identifier - DOI

About

• Item ORO ID
• 54351
• Item Type
• Journal Item
• ISSN
• 1756-1833
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  TRANSFER-IN: A mixed method investigation into the acceptability of intrauterine contraception, from the perspectives of women, GPs and Practice Nurses	Louise Miller	Bayer Bayer HealthCare

• Keywords
• Intrauterine devices; intrauterine systems; contraceptive barriers; general practice; long-acting reversible contraception
• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Health, Wellbeing and Social Care > Health and Social Care
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS)
• Research Group
• ?? hwpra ??
• Copyright Holders
• © 2018 The Authors
• Related URLs
• • http://srh.bmj.com/content/early/2018/04...
• Depositing User
• Lesley Hoggart