Awareness of the Maternal Health Benefits of Lactation Among U.S. Pregnant Individuals.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed awareness of the maternal health benefits of lactation among a sample of nulliparous pregnant individuals in the United States, identified variables associated with awareness of these benefits, and examined whether awareness of these benefits impacts breastfeeding attitudes or intentions. METHODS: We administered a web-based survey to nulliparous U.S.-born individuals carrying a singleton gestation of at least 28 weeks. We assessed awareness of the maternal health benefits of lactation using 10 items to create a summative score. We examined variation in awareness of these benefits by demographic characteristics, health insurance, and personal or family health history and used multivariable models to estimate associations between awareness of the maternal health benefits of lactation and breastfeeding intentions. RESULTS: Of the 675 individuals invited to complete surveys, 451 (67%) responded. Only 50% were aware that breastfeeding lowers maternal risk of breast cancer; fewer were aware that breastfeeding lowers the risk of ovarian cancer (35%), diabetes (27%), and hypertension and heart disease (26%). Awareness of the maternal benefits of lactation did not vary by age or race/ethnicity. However, significant regional variation was noted. In multivariable models, scores of awareness of the maternal health benefits of breastfeeding were significantly associated with intentions to breastfeed for at least 12 months (adjusted odds ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.11, 1.37). CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to increase awareness of the maternal health benefits of lactation are still needed. Increasing awareness of the maternal health benefits of lactation may strengthen intentions to breastfeed as recommended.

Prenatal Counseling on the Maternal Health Benefits of Lactation: A Randomized Trial.

Objective: To assess the effects of prenatal counseling about the maternal health benefits of lactation on postpartum knowledge, breastfeeding intentions, and infant feeding behaviors. Materials and Methods: We conducted a randomized trial with 411 nulliparous U.S.-born women carrying a singleton gestation. Participants were recruited online; after completing a baseline survey that assessed breastfeeding knowledge and intentions, participants were randomized to receive a 10-minute virtual counseling session about the benefits of breastfeeding or attention-control counseling about smoke-free homes. We collected data on breastfeeding knowledge, intentions, and infant feeding behaviors through 12 months postpartum and conducted an intention-to-treat analysis. Results: On enrollment, awareness of the maternal health benefits of lactation was similarly low in both study groups. Postpartum, participants who received this prenatal counseling intervention had significantly greater awareness that breastfeeding decreases maternal risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis (p < 0.001 for all). On enrollment, intended duration of breastfeeding was similar between groups (10.1 months versus 9.7 months, p = 0.41). At 1-month postpartum, intended duration of breastfeeding had increased from baseline among those who received this counseling (+0.7 months versus -0.7 months among controls, p = 0.004); among intervention participants intended duration of breastfeeding decreased less at 3 (-0.8 versus -1.6, p = 0.18), 6 (-2.0 versus -3.0, p = 0.06), 9 (-2.8 versus -4.2, p = 0.03), and 12 months postpartum (-4.8 versus -6.2, p = 0.09). Rates of exclusive breastfeeding and any breastfeeding were similar between groups. Conclusion: Prenatal counseling on the maternal health benefits of lactation increases awareness of these maternal health benefits and extends intended duration of breastfeeding. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04601987.

Understanding of Lactational Amenorrhea As a Contraceptive Method Among U.S. Pregnant Women.

Introduction: The lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) of postpartum contraception is more effective than typical use of condoms or birth control pills. However, LAM may be underutilized due to incomplete perinatal counseling. Methods: We compared perceptions of the effectiveness of postpartum contraceptives including LAM among U.S.-born nulliparous pregnant women recruited using social media for a trial (NCT04601987). We used descriptive statistics to summarize data. Results: Of 760 individuals screened, 627 were invited to participate, and 451 (72%) were enrolled. Most (81%) had a college degree; 79% intended to breastfeed for at least 1 month. Only 8% believed exclusive breastfeeding reduces the chance of pregnancy "a lot" within 6 months of delivery and 2% indicated that exclusive breastfeeding is typically more effective than birth control pills or condoms. Compared with those planning to use other postpartum contraceptives, the 17% of respondents who planned to use LAM were more likely to know that breastfeeding delays return of menses (84% versus 44%, p ≤ 0.0001) and provides protection from pregnancy until menses return (54% versus 22%, p ≤ 0.0001). Although 25% of those planning to use LAM believed exclusive breastfeeding reduces pregnancy risk by "a lot," only 5% thought LAM is more effective than birth control pills and only 9% thought that it is more effective than condoms. Conclusions/Implications: First-time U.S. mothers are often unaware of breastfeeding's effects on menses and fertility. Clinicians providing counseling about postpartum contraceptive options should include more information on LAM.

Remotely Educating Young Women About Alcohol: A Randomized Trial of the PartyWise Intervention.

Background: Alcohol and binge drinking pose significant health risks, especially for underage women; nonetheless, binge drinking is common. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the effectiveness of the PartyWise intervention in increasing awareness of sex differences in the risks of binge drinking, we used social media to enroll 520 female adolescents aged 15-19 years in a randomized controlled trial. Intervention participants received telephone screening, a brief counseling intervention with web-based resources (http://www.partywise.org), and up to 8 weekly text messages. Results: At baseline, most (71%) participants reported alcohol consumption in the prior month and 44% reported binge drinking (four or more drinks on one occasion), without differences between study groups; 79% of participants were aware of sex-based differences in alcohol risks. At follow-up, intervention recipients were more knowledgeable about sex-based differences in alcohol risks (adjusted odds ratio [adj OR] 8.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.35-23.49 at 3 months; adj OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.21-4.90 at 9 months) and more likely to accurately define binge drinking (adj OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.02-2.60 at 3 months; OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.89-2.06 at 9 months). Although rates of any binge drinking in the past month remained similar between groups, intervention recipients were less likely to report binge drinking more than once in the past 30 days (22% vs. 32%, adj OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35-0.99 at 3 months; 27% vs. 30%, adj OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.60-1.55 at 9 months). Conclusions: The PartyWise intervention is a promising approach to increasing awareness of the risks of binge drinking for underage women in a remotely delivered platform. Clinical Trials Registration: The Share Health Study: Teen Social Connections and Health (Phase 2), NCT03842540, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03842540?id=NCT03842540&draw=2&rank=1.

Promoting teen-to-teen contraceptive communication with the SpeakOut intervention, a cluster randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: To improve teen contraceptive use, the SpeakOut intervention combines structured counseling, online resources, and text reminders to encourage teens to share their experiences using intrauterine contraception (IUC) or an implant with peers. STUDY DESIGN: To evaluate the effectiveness of remote delivery of the SpeakOut intervention in increasing teen contraceptive use, we conducted a cluster randomized trial involving female adolescents who were recruited online. Primary participants (n = 520) were randomly assigned to receive SpeakOut or an attention control; each primary participant recruited a cluster of up to 5 female peers as secondary participants (n = 581). We assessed contraceptive communication, knowledge, and use, at baseline, 3 and 9 months after participants enrolled. We examined differences between study groups, controlling for clustering by primary participant and baseline characteristics. RESULTS: The trial's primary outcome, contraceptive use by secondary participants, was similar between groups at both 3 and 9 months postintervention. Compared to controls, primary participants receiving SpeakOut tended to be less likely to discontinue contraception within 9 months (4.8% vs 7.8%, p = 0.11 for IUC; 7.8% vs 9.8%, p = 0.45 for implants), but this did not reach statistical significance. SpeakOut failed to increase contraceptive communication; regardless of study group, most secondary participants reported peer communication about contraception (86% vs 88%, p = 0.57). Most secondary participants were aware of the hormonal IUC (91.4% vs 90.4%, p = 0.72), copper IUC (92.9% vs 88.6%, p = 0.13), and implant (96.5% vs 96.1%, p = 0.83) 3 months after enrolling, regardless of the intervention their primary participant received. However, contraceptive knowledge remained incomplete in all study groups. CONCLUSION: Remote delivery of the SpeakOutintervention did not improve contraceptive communication, knowledge or use among participating teens or their peers. IMPLICATIONS: Efforts to support teen-to-teen contraceptive communication and ensure that teens have accurate information about the full range of contraceptive methods, including highly effective reversible contraceptives, require refinement.

Awareness of the option of IUC self-removal among US adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To assess adolescent awareness of the safety of self-removal of intrauterine contraception (IUC) and explore associations with sociodemographic characteristics, IUC knowledge, and personal experience using an IUC. STUDY DESIGN: We recruited women aged 15 to 20 years from 21 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Participants completed an online survey assessing their communication with peers about contraception and knowledge and use of IUCs. RESULTS: Few (11%, 95% CI 9%-13%) adolescents knew that IUC self-removal is safe, whether or not they had personally used an IUC (14% vs 8%, p = 0.01). Knowledge that IUCs do not protect users from sexually transmitted infections (99% vs 91%, p < 0.001) and that IUCs can be removed early (99% vs 88%, p < 0.001) was higher among adolescents who had used an IUC than those who had not. Knowledge that IUC use does not adversely affect fertility after IUC removal (86% vs 63%, p < 0.001) and that IUCs are more effective than birth control pills (82% vs 50%, p < 0.001) also differed by personal experience with an IUC. Awareness of the safety of IUC self-removal was not associated with overall knowledge of IUCs. However, adolescents who knew that IUCs are more effective than birth control pills were more likely to be aware of the safety of IUC self-removal (OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.12-3.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent women in the U.S. possess incomplete knowledge of many important aspects of IUC use, and awareness of the safety of IUC self-removal is particularly low, even among those who have used an IUC. IMPLICATIONS: Efforts to increase adolescent knowledge of IUC should include information about the safety of IUC self-removal in order to safeguard adolescents' reproductive autonomy.

The Current State Of Telehealth Evidence: A Rapid Review.

Policy makers and practitioners show a continued interest in telehealth's potential to increase efficiency and reach patients facing access barriers. However, telehealth encompasses many applications for varied conditions and populations. It is therefore difficult to draw broad conclusions about telehealth's efficacy. This rapid review examines recent evidence both about telehealth's efficacy by clinical area and about telehealth's impact on utilization. We searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the use of telehealth services by patients of any age for any condition published in English in the period January 2004-May 2018. Twenty systematic reviews and associated meta-analyses are included in this review, covering clinical areas such as mental health and rehabilitation. Broadly, telehealth interventions appear generally equivalent to in-person care. However, telehealth's impact on the use of other services is unclear. Many factors should be carefully considered when weighing the evidence of telehealth's efficacy, including modality, evidence quality, population demographics, and point-in-time measurement of outcomes.

Testing the Validity of Primary Care Physicians' Self-Reported Acceptance of New Patients by Insurance Status.

OBJECTIVE: To compare physicians' self-reported willingness to provide new patient appointments with the experience of research assistants posing as either a Medicaid beneficiary or privately insured person seeking a new patient appointment. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Survey administered to California physicians and telephone calls placed to a subsample of respondents. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional comparison. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: All physicians whose California licenses were due for renewal in June or July 2013 were mailed a survey, which included questions about acceptance of new Medicaid and new privately insured patients. Subsequently, research assistants using a script called the practices of a stratified random sample of 209 primary care physician respondents in an attempt to obtain a new patient appointment. By design, half of the physicians selected for the telephone validation reported on the survey that they accepted new Medicaid patients and half indicated that they did not. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The percentage of callers posing as Medicaid patients who could schedule new patient appointments was 18 percentage points lower than the percentage of physicians who self-reported on the survey that they accept new Medicaid patients. Callers were also less likely to obtain appointments when they posed as patients with private insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians overestimate the extent to which their practices are accepting new patients, regardless of insurance status.

Electronic health record availability among advanced practice registered nurses and physicians.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize availability of electronic health records (EHRs) at the primary practice locations of certified nurse midwives (CNMs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and physicians in California prior to the implementation of the state's Medicaid EHR incentive program. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional mail surveys of samples of CNMs, NPs, and physicians who have active California licenses and reside in California. Descriptive statistics were calculated and multivariate regression analyses were estimated to identify characteristics associated with having an EHR. The following practice characteristics were included in the multivariate model: payer mix (% Medicaid), practice setting (hospital vs outpatient), and practice size. Variables for practitioner's age, sex, and practice location were also included. RESULTS: For both CNMs/NPs and physicians, practice size was the strongest predictor of EHR availability. Practicing in a large or mid-sized group was associated with higher odds of having a basic EHR or an advanced EHR. Having a high percentage of Medicaid patients was associated with lower odds of having an advanced EHR. Among physicians, but not CNMs/NPs, hospital-based practice was associated with higher odds of having an advanced EHR; being over age 45 years was associated with lower odds of having any EHR. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that prior to the launch of California's Medicaid EHR incentive program, similar characteristics predicted EHR availability among both CNMs/NPs and physicians, and that availability was concentrated among large practices with fewer Medicaid patients. Future studies should assess whether Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments attenuate these relationships.