The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) is sponsoring Cases in Contraception, an education program for health care providers. The purpose of this program is to increase clinicians’ ability to effectively address the myriad barriers to helping patients select and adhere to their chosen contraceptive method(s).

For more information about the program, please contact Camille Harris at charris@arhp.org or (202) 466-3825.

Background

Among the 62 million US women of reproductive age, an estimated 70 percent are fertile, sexually active, and trying to avoid pregnancy.¹ Most of these women use reversible contraceptive methods, yet nearly half of all pregnancies each year are unintended.² At current rates, experts estimate that at least half of all US women will experience an unintended pregnancy, and one in three will have an abortion, by age 45.³

Preventing unintended pregnancy remains a challenging public health issue in this country, even with so many contraceptive methods available on the market. There are many reasons why providers recommend or prescribe certain contraceptive methods to patients, and many reasons why patients may or may not use those methods—or any method at all. Because women often rely on health care providers for contraceptive information and prescriptions, it is crucial that providers understand and are able to navigate these seldom-discussed barriers to helping their patients select the right method(s) to meet their contraceptive needs.

Program Design and Educational Activities

This case-based continuing education program utilizes RealCME, an interactive, self-directed program through which participants virtually interact with multiple patients in a virtual clinic (vClinic). The vClinic is designed to replicate the real-world experiences of busy clinicians, enabling learners to “meet and care for” patients over several visits. This web-based platform incorporates key principles of adult learning theory by enabling participants to actively apply their knowledge to relevant situations at a self-controlled pace.⁴

The Contraception vClinic is available at no cost through ARHP’s Web site. To access the vClinic, click here.

Expected Outcome

Visit #1
At the conclusion of this program, participants should be able to:

• Collect a sexual health history and identify key life circumstances potentially impacting contraceptive adherence in order to deliver patient-centered care
• Provide evidence-based information and appropriate counseling and care to patients to ensure improved patient health care outcomes
• Develop individualized strategies for provision of contraception in order to maximize patients’ satisfaction with method and adherence

Visit #2
At the conclusion of this program, participants should be able to:

• Recognize gaps in contraceptive use that lead to increased risk for unintended pregnancy and identify patients’ key life circumstances in order to deliver patient-centered care
• Explain reasons for unpredictable menstrual bleeding or spotting related to hormonal contraception and recommend methods to regulate bleeding
• Develop individualized strategies for provision of contraception in order to maximize patients’ satisfaction with method and adherence

Intended Audience and Accreditation

The target audiences for this educational activity are clinicians and other health professionals that provide primary and reproductive health care to women of reproductive age, including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurse-midwives in ob/gyn, family and internal medicine, and related fields. Pharmacists are another key target audience, as they provide important point-of-service care to women seeking advice about over-the-counter or prescription contraceptives.

The educational materials associated with this program are accredited for continuing medical education, nursing contact hours, pharmacology, and pharmacist credits.

Funding

This project is funded through an educational grant from Schering Plough.

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1. Mosher WD, et al. Use of contraception and use of family planning services in the United States: 1982–2002. Advance Data from Vital & Health Statistics. 2004 Dec 10;350:1-36.
2. Finer LB, Henshaw SK. Disparities in rates of unintended pregnancy in the United States, 1994 and 2001. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2006 Jun;38(2):90-6.
3. Guttmacher Institute. In Brief: Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States. 2008 Jan. Available at http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.pdf . Accessed March 10, 2008.
4. Casebeer LL, Strasser SM, Spettell CM, et al. Designing tailored Web-based instruction to improve practicing physicians’ preventive practives. J Med Internet Res. 2003 Jul-Sep; 5(3):e20.