Implementation of a Learning Collaborative Model Increases Chlamydia Screening at 37 Family Planning Clinics: Lessons Learned From 3 Cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia is the most commonly reported notifiable condition in the United States. Chlamydia disproportionately impacts young women and women of color. Annual screening of sexually active women 24 years and younger is recommended. METHODS: Between 2016 and 2019, we facilitated 3 learning collaboratives to increase chlamydia screening at a combined 37 family planning clinics funded by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Office of Population Affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services, and the New York State Department of Health. We applied a consistent learning collaborative approach across the 3 cohorts. Participating clinics sought to improve the proportion of clients screened for chlamydia each month, implemented a standard set of recommended practices, attended virtual learning sessions, reported updates on quality improvement efforts and chlamydia screening data monthly, and provided qualitative feedback in an online final assessment. RESULTS: Median screening rates increased by 11%, 22%, and 24% in the 3 collaboratives (P values of <0.01, 0.05, and 0.02, respectively). Increases were sustained after the collaboratives ended though the changes did not reach statistical significance. At least 75% of clinics increased screening rates in each collaborative. Clinics reported that adopting normalizing and opt-out language when counseling clients about screening was both feasible and effective, as was reducing missed opportunities for screening. CONCLUSIONS: Learning collaboratives consistently resulted in improvement across 3 cohorts and shed light on barriers and facilitators to screening in family planning settings. Public health practitioners are encouraged to draw on our results and lessons learned to promote screening.

An eLearning series for staff working in Title X-funded settings: An effort to disseminate national family planning recommendations.

OBJECTIVES: A team of trainers and instructional designers who develop federally funded training for staff working in Title X-funded settings developed an eLearning series of seven modules to support dissemination of Providing Quality Family Planning Services: Recommendations from CDC and the US Office of Population Affairs. QFP outlines how to provide services related preventing and achieving pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated participant reactions and intention to apply what they learned from the eLearning modules. RESULTS: In 2021, 6132 unique individuals completed 12,102 modules, and of those, 5324 unique individuals completed 10,460 evaluations (86% evaluation response rate). Nearly all respondents agreed that the modules were useful (97%), that they would recommend the training to others (96%), and that they were confident in their ability to apply what they learned (97%). More than half (60%) of respondents intended to share information and tools with colleagues and with clients; one in ten (10%) intended to change program practices. CONCLUSIONS: eLearning modules can be an efficient way to disseminate recommendations.

What do Family Planning Staff Prioritize for Patient Experience Improvements? Findings From a Training Initiative in New York State.

It is especially important for providers of sexual and reproductive healthcare services to deliver positive patient experiences, given the personal, preference-driven, and sensitive nature of these services. We facilitated a patient experience training initiative with 8 teams representing family planning agencies in New York State. Teams participated in onsite assessment activities, 4 individualized coaching calls, and 5 group virtual sessions. Teams reported regularly on their progress and changes made. Seven teams (88%) improved clinic flow and 4 teams (50%) increased access to appointments. Five teams (63%) each addressed staff satisfaction and internal communication, and 2 teams (25%) improved their first impressions with patients. Four teams (50%) enhanced the physical environment and 3 teams (38%) improved their website and virtual presence. When engaged in a process to collect data, identify opportunities for improvement, implement changes, and reflect on the progress of those changes-both individually and with peer agencies-all 8 teams successfully implemented system-level changes.