From research to practice: dissemination of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project.

Unintended pregnancy is a public health problem with societal consequences. The Contraceptive CHOICE Project (CHOICE) demonstrated a reduction in teen pregnancy and abortion by removing barriers to effective contraception. The purpose of the study was to describe the dissemination approach used to create awareness of and promote desire to adopt the CHOICE model among selected audiences. We used a 4-stage approach and detail the work completed in the first 2 stages. We describe stakeholder involvement in the first stage and the process of undertaking core strategies in the second stage. We examine insights gained throughout the process. Through our dissemination approach, we reached an estimated 300,000 targeted individuals, not including the population reached through media. We were contacted by 141 entities for technical assistance. The completion and reporting of dissemination processes is an important component of research. There is a need to fully document and disseminate strategies that can help facilitate practice change.

Structured contraceptive counseling provided by the Contraceptive CHOICE Project.

BACKGROUND: We describe the contraceptive counseling provided by the Contraceptive CHOICE Project (CHOICE) and compare contraceptive methods selected between the university research site and community partner clinics. STUDY DESIGN: We developed a structured, contraceptive counseling program. All CHOICE participants enrolling at our university research site underwent the counseling, which was evidence-based and included information about all reversible contraception. Participants enrolling at partner clinics underwent "usual" counseling. We trained 54 research team members to provide contraceptive counseling; the majority had no formal health care training. We compared the contraceptive methods chosen by participants enrolling at our university research site to participants enrolling at partner clinics who did not undergo structured contraceptive counseling. RESULTS: There were 6,530 (86%) women who enrolled into CHOICE at our university site and 1,107 (14%) women who enrolled at partner clinics. Uptake of long-acting reversible contraception was high at both the university site and partner clinics (72% and 78%, respectively, p<.0001). However, uptake of the intrauterine device was higher at the university site (58% compared to 43%, p<.0001) and uptake of the subdermal implant was higher at partner clinics (35% versus 14%, p<.0001). After adjusting for confounders, we found no difference in the uptake of long-acting reversible contraception between women counseled at the university site compared to partner clinics (adjusted relative risk=0.98, 95% confidence interval [0.94, 1.02]). CONCLUSION: Structured contraceptive counseling can be effectively provided in a clinical research setting by staff without prior health care experience or clinical training.

Predictors of male partner treatment for sexually transmitted infection.

BACKGROUND: Patient-initiated notification is a commonly used practice for notifying sex partners of possible exposure to a sexually transmitted infection (STI); however, 46% to 75% of partners are never treated. The Contraceptive CHOICE Project (CHOICE) is a longitudinal cohort study of women that provides no-cost contraception, STI testing, treatment to participants, and free partner treatment. Our objective was to evaluate characteristics of women who tested positive for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis, and their association with successful partner treatment. METHODS: We analyzed baseline survey and STI testing, notification, and treatment data from the first 5087 participants enrolled in CHOICE. We considered "treated partners" to be men who received antibiotic treatment at the study clinic or by a prescription through the study. Independent predictors of successful partner treatment were identified using univariate analysis and multivariable analysis using Poisson regression with robust error variance. RESULTS: Forty-four percent of male partners were successfully treated. Women whose partners were less likely to obtain treatment were black (adjusted Relative Risk (RR adj) RR adj = 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5-0.8) or reported some concern about future STI with the partner (RR adj = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4, 0.8). Women whose partners were more likely to receive treatment were living with their partner (RR adj = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.8) or reported recent inconsistent condom use (RR adj = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.1). CONCLUSIONS: The male partner treatment rate resulting from female patient-initiated partner notification in our study was low. Our findings highlight the need to develop novel notification interventions that yield higher partner treatment rates and consider patient-specific factors, such as race and relationship status.

The Contraceptive CHOICE Project: reducing barriers to long-acting reversible contraception.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce and promote the use of long-acting reversible methods of contraception (LARC; intrauterine contraceptives and subdermal implant) by removing financial and knowledge barriers. STUDY DESIGN: The Contraceptive CHOICE Project is a prospective cohort study of 10,000 women 14-45 years who want to avoid pregnancy for at least 1 year and are initiating a new form of reversible contraception. Women screened for this study are read a script regarding long-acting reversible methods of contraception to increase awareness of these options. Participants choose their contraceptive method that is provided at no cost. We report the contraceptive choice and baseline characteristics of the first 2500 women enrolled August 2007 through December 2008. RESULTS: Sixty-seven percent of women enrolled (95% confidence interval, 65.3-69.0) chose long-acting methods. Fifty-six percent selected intrauterine contraception and 11% selected the subdermal implant. CONCLUSION: Once financial barriers were removed and long-acting reversible methods of contraception were introduced to all potential participants as a first-line contraceptive option, two-thirds chose long-acting reversible methods of contraception.