Contraception Initiation Feasibility in the Pediatric ED

The Washington University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Contraception; Contraception Behavior

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Intervention Group; Other: Control Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT03559634

201805104

Details and patient eligibility

About

Many female adolescents using the pediatric emergency department (ED) are at higher risk for unintended pregnancy. This is a significant public health issue and hormonal contraception is the mainstay of prevention. Many barriers to hormonal contraception exist and other studies have demonstrated that referral from the ED for hormonal contraception leads to poor follow up.

This study will be a pilot study to assess the feasibility of initiating hormonal contraception in the pediatric ED.

Full description

This study will assess the feasibility of initiating hormonal contraception in the pediatric ED. Currently, all 15-21-year-old patients receiving care in our ED are asked to complete an adolescent heath questionnaire to identify risk-factors for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sexually active female patients who indicate on this questionnaire they are not currently using hormonal contraception will be eligible for participation in this study.

Potential participants will be screened using the EMR and eligible patients will be approached. Consent will be obtained from adults directly and from a parent or guardian for minors that have one present. For minors that present without a parent or guardian, assent only with be obtained from the minor. Participants will be randomized into two groups, an intervention group and a control group. Participants in both groups will be given tablet computer and, through a software application on the tablet, answer questions electronically about their background, medical history, and contraceptive preferences. They will then be shown a video that provides an overview of hormonal contraceptive options. Depending on the participants medical history and contraceptive preferences, they may be offered more in-depth educational videos about specific types of hormonal contraception for which they are eligible (e.g. pill, transdermal patch, intravaginal ring, injection, and implant).

Once they have completed watching the videos, participants in the intervention group will have the option of initiating one of the offered forms of birth control during the ED visit. They will only be offered medications considered low risk and for which they do not have any medical contraindications. Urine pregnancy testing will be done before any method is given. They will be able to start any contraceptive method from among those offered after their screening. Participants in the control group will be offered outpatient referral to initiate contraception, the current standard of care in our ED. All patients in both arms of the study will be given referral/follow up options for further contraceptive care.

All participants in this study will then be followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months to determine continuation of contraception practices, follow up practices, satisfaction, and pregnancy rates.

Enrollment: 55 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 15 to 21 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Female patients, 15-21 years old that present to the SLCH pediatric ED
• Report history of vaginal sex on the ED routine screening questionnaire
• Not currently using hormonal contraception

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant
• Currently using hormonal contraception
• Foster care
• Non-English speaking
• Chief complaint of psychiatric concern, physical abuse or sexual abuse
• Triage acuity level 1 or 2 as they are likely to be too ill to participate
• Those with history of stroke, venous thromboembolism, actively being treated for cancer, or who have an organ transplant
• Too ill to participate as determined by the pediatric ED health care provider (attending physician or advanced practice nurse)
• Already participated in the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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55 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

Using an electronic application, participants answer survey questions about their sexual history, medical history, and contraceptive preferences. They will watch a video that overviews the types of hormonal contraception. Then, based on survey answers, they will be able to watch more in-depth educational videos on methods that they qualify for. Participants will only be offered methods that are considered low risk and without any contraindication based upon responses to survey screening. This may include, contraceptive implant, medroxyprogesterone acetate injection, microgestin pills, xulane patch, or intravaginal ring. Participants will then be given the opportunity to initiate contraception in the ED. All participants will be referred for follow up outpatient health services. Subjects who have medical contraindications to certain contraceptive medications will be given a standardized handout that explains why they were not eligible for the medication(s) while in the ED.

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Intervention Group

Control Group

Other group

Description:

Using an electronic application, participants answer survey questions about their background, sexual history, medical history, and contraceptive preferences. They will watch a video that overviews the types of hormonal contraception with brief pros and cons of each method. Then, based on participants medical history and contraceptive preferences they will be able to watch more in-depth counseling and educational videos on contraceptive methods that they qualify for. After these videos they will be given information on where they will be able to follow up to receive these contraceptive methods if they wish to start a method. Subjects who have medical contraindications to certain hormonal contraceptive medications will be given a standardized handout that explains why they were not eligible for the medication(s), should this come up in future discussions with their providers.

Treatment:

Other: Control Group