New forms of contraception

Adolescent users of an online contraception selection tool: how user preferences and characteristics differ from those of adults

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to report user statistics of an online contraception selection tool over a 6-month period, comparing preferences and characteristics of adolescents to those of adults.

SETTING

Choosing Wisely, available on the website www.SexualityandU.ca, is an interactive program that helps women select an ideal birth control method.

DESIGN

Answers to the online questionnaire were logged for a 6-month period. Answers of adolescent users were retrospectively reviewed for responses to questions regarding personal preferences and compared with those of adults.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants of the study included users who self-identified as first-time users of Choosing Wisely.

RESULTS

3178 adolescents (age ≤19) and 4206 adults self-identified as new users and completed the software module. Adolescents less commonly reported weighing over 198 pounds or to be smokers. 61% of adolescents would prefer to avoid menses (vs 52% of adults) and 83% of adolescent would find a pregnancy devastating (vs 64% of adults). 1720 (54%) of the adolescents had menstrual complaints; of these 500 (29%) did not believe they could reliably take a pill daily. The majority of both adolescents (73%) and adults (71%) claimed to be willing to use a contraceptive method that required interruption of intercourse.

CONCLUSIONS

Choosing Wisely is attracting large numbers of teens and adults, whose responses provide insight into the characteristics of those seeking contraception. Our data corroborate the need for contraceptive options such as combined contraceptives that do not require daily pill-taking and contraceptives that offer menstrual management. However, the magnitude of these statistically significant differences was not always as impressive clinically.

Characteristics and concerns of women choosing an online contraception selection tool ("choosing wisely")

BACKGROUND

Choosing Wisely, a user-friendly and interactive application developed and tested at Queen's University, is a self-administered computer-based questionnaire that aims to assist women, their partners, and their health care providers in deciding among contraceptive options. The application asks specific, direct questions regarding a patient's preferences, health, and lifestyle, and it then generates three lists: (1) indicated contraceptive methods, (2) options that may be suitable, and (3) contraindicated methods.

OBJECTIVE

To report statistics on the users of Choosing Wisely in the first 13 months since the launch of the program on the award-winning SOGC website Sexualityandu.ca in June, 2007.

METHODS

At the end of the program module, each user's answers were logged anonymously in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet along with the time and date of completion. Descriptive statistics were generated in SPSS version 16.0.

RESULTS

Between June 21, 2007, and July 25, 2008, 9775 users completed the Choosing Wisely program. Of these users, 8942 (91.5%) were female, and 8745 (89.5%) were under 35. At least one concern regarding contraceptive options was reported by 7359 users (75.3%), and the most common of these was weight gain, selected by 4806 (65.3%).

CONCLUSION

Choosing Wisely has attracted an average of 24 users per day seeking more information on birth control methods. The responses gathered from the program will likely allow for both a better understanding of the characteristics of women who desire birth control and refinement of the program, with the aim of better serving those who are seeking contraceptive advice.