Telemedicine for Adolescent and Young Adult Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Post-insertion Visits: Outcomes over 1 Year.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Telemedicine for long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) care is understudied given the rapid implementation of these services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We compared outcomes over 1 year of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) attending a LARC post-insertion visit via telemedicine vs in person. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Four academic adolescent medicine clinics in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: AYAs (ages 13-26 years) who received LARC between 4/1/20 and 3/1/21 and attended a post-insertion visit within 12 weeks. INTERVENTIONS: none. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes over 1 year were compared between AYAs who completed this visit via telemedicine vs in person. We analyzed the data using descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and regression models. RESULTS: Of 194 AYAs (ages 13.9-25.7 years) attending a post-insertion visit, 40.2% utilized telemedicine. Menstrual management (odds ratio (OR) = 1.02; confidence interval (CI): 0.40-2.60), acne management (P = .28), number of visits attended (relative risk (RR) = 1.08; CI: 0.99-1.19), and LARC removal (P = .95) were similar between groups. AYAs attending via telemedicine were less likely than those attending in person to have STI testing (P = .001). Intrauterine device expulsion or malposition and arm symptoms with implant in situ were rare outcomes in both groups. CONCLUSION: Roughly 40% of AYAs attended a post-insertion visit via telemedicine during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and had similar 1-year outcomes as those attending in person. The decreased likelihood of STI testing for those using telemedicine highlights the need to provide alternative options, when indicated, such as asynchronous or home testing. Our results support the use of telemedicine for AYA LARC post-insertion care and identify potential gaps in telemedicine care which can help improve clinic protocols.

Relationship between long-acting reversible contraception and acne in a cohort of adolescents and young adults.

BACKGROUND: The use of progestin-only long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) may be a risk factor for acne. Few studies have focused primarily on the effects of hormonal LARC on the development or exacerbation of acne in adolescents and young adults. We sought to understand the incidence and management of acne following hormonal LARC insertion in this adolescent/young adult population. METHODS: A secondary data analysis was conducted of prospectively collected quality improvement (QI) data from the Adolescent Medicine LARC Collaborative. Subjects were evaluated by clinicians in adolescent medicine clinics at participating study sites, and acne severity was documented using a standardized recording instrument and scale. Descriptive statistics were reported as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables or mean and standard deviation (SD) for continuous variables. We compared demographic and clinical characteristics by those who had worsening acne, accounting for site inter-correlation using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel chi-square tests for categorical variables and linear generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression for continuous variables. RESULTS: Of 1319 subjects who completed LARC insertion, 28.5% (376/1319) experienced worsening acne following use of progestin-only LARC. Acne was a contributing factor to LARC removal in only 3% (40/1319), and the sole reason for removal in 0.4% (5/1319) of all subjects. As this was a secondary analysis of prospectively collected QI data, limitations of this study include incomplete or inaccurate documentation of acne severity. Moreover, LARC insertions without follow-up/removal visits or with only follow-up/removal within 8 weeks of insertion were excluded from our study, which may also bias results. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents and young adults seeking progestin-only LARC should be counseled about the potential for developing acne or experiencing a worsening of existing acne during LARC use. However, acne was not a common reason for LARC discontinuation.

Resident Education Curriculum in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology: The Short Curriculum 4.0.

Exposure to pediatric and adolescent gynecology (PAG) varies across residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, and pediatrics, as well as both adolescent medicine and PAG fellowship programs. Nevertheless, these programs are responsible for training residents and fellows and providing opportunities to fulfill PAG learning objectives. To that end, the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology has taken a leadership role in PAG trainee education by creating and maintaining this Short Curriculum. The curriculum outlines specific learning objectives central to PAG education and lists high-yield, concise resources for learners. This updated curriculum replaces the previous 2021 publication with a new focus toward accessible online content and updated resources.

Adolescent and young adult long-acting reversible contraception post-insertion visit attendance before and after COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: Widespread use of telemedicine for contraceptive care, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), was adopted in the United States in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the rapid implementation of these services, little is known about the use of telemedicine for adolescent and young adult (AYA) contraceptive care. This study examined the routine use of telemedicine for LARC post-insertion care by comparing visit attendance between AYAs receiving LARC before and after the COVID-19 pandemic onset. METHODS: This analysis included LARC insertions 3/1/19-11/30/19 (pre-pandemic onset cohort) and 4/1/20-12/31/20 (post-pandemic onset cohort) from three Adolescent Medicine subspecialty clinics in the United States. De-identified data were collected via review of the electronic health record. Descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, and t-tests described and compared groups. Adjusted logistic regression models examined factors associated with attending a post-insertion visit and attending this visit via telemedicine. RESULTS: This analysis included 525 LARC insertions (279 pre- and 246 post-pandemic onset). The proportion of AYAs attending a post-insertion visit increased after the COVID-19 pandemic onset (pre 30 % vs. post 46 %; p≤0.001). Adjusted models revealed that the post-pandemic onset cohort was nearly twice as likely to attend a post-insertion visit as the pre-pandemic onset cohort (OR=1.90; 95 % CI=1.68-2.15). Of those attending this visit in the post-pandemic onset cohort (n=112), 42 % utilized telemedicine. CONCLUSIONS: AYAs were more likely to attend post-insertion visits after the COVID-19 pandemic onset than before. Telemedicine may have influenced this change in visit attendance.

Continuation rates of hormonal intrauterine devices in adolescents and young adults when placed for contraceptive and non-contraceptive indications.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate and compare continuation rates of hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) when placed for contraceptive or menstrual management indications in adolescents and young adults. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a secondary analysis of a prospectively collected database of all hormonal IUD insertions from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2020, with at least 1-year follow-up, across four Adolescent Medicine practices. IUD insertions without known indication were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 936 IUD insertions were attempted, 45% for contraception only, 18% for menstrual management only, and 37% for both indications. Insertion was successful in 868 (93%) attempts, and success did not differ by indication (p = 0.74). The mean age at insertion was 18.9 years (SD = 2.4 years), with no difference by indication. Of the completed insertions, 650 (75%) had at least one follow-up during the data analysis period. Excluding those without follow-up, the overall continuation rates were 77% at 1 year, 66% at 2 years, and 54% at 3 years. While continuation rates did not differ by indication at 1 year, at 3 years, continuation was highest among those who sought the device for menstrual management only (contraception = 53%, menstrual = 57%, both = 53%, p < 0.01) Malposition was rare (4.0%), as was device expulsion (2.5%), and these did not differ by indication. CONCLUSION: IUD continuation rates were high among adolescents and young adults and did not significantly differ when placed for contraceptive or non-contraceptive indication in the first year of use. IMPLICATIONS: Adolescents and young adults may seek the hormonal IUD for contraception and/or menstrual management. Our study found that IUD continuation rates were high at 1 year regardless of the indication for utilization.

Long-acting reversible contraception in gender-diverse adolescents and young adults: Outcomes from a multisite collaborative.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the clinical experience of gender-diverse adolescents and young adults receiving long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). STUDY DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of prospectively collected quality improvement data among gender-diverse adolescents and young adults receiving LARC in four adolescent medicine clinics. RESULTS: Most attempted insertions (59/63) were successful. A majority (54%) chose LARC for both contraception and menstrual management. Pelvic pain/cramping and unsatisfactory bleeding were reported side effects. One known expulsion and six known LARC removals occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Gender-diverse adolescents and young adults had high rates of successful LARC insertion and demonstrated a side effect profile similar to a broader adolescent and young adult population seeking LARC care. IMPLICATIONS: LARC is an important and well-tolerated method of menstrual management and contracention in gender-diverse adolescents and young adults, although more investigation is needed to understand how gender-affirming testosterone therapy may impact the LARC experience in this population.

Adolescent patient portals and concerns about confidentiality.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To better understand confidentiality issues that arise from adolescent access to patient portals. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies have evaluated the views of teens, parents, providers, and institutional leadership on adolescent patient portals and the risks they pose to adolescent privacy. Additional investigations have shown that teen portal accounts are often inappropriately accessed by parents. Guidelines are needed to better inform the creation of secure teen patient portals. Adolescent providers and other medical staff should be aware of the information available on portals, how to ensure portals are being accessed appropriately, and the potential for confidentiality breaches that come with portal use. Medical organizations that offer portal access need to provide resources to adolescents and their families to improve understanding around the importance of confidential care and how to maintain confidentiality while still engaging meaningfully with the healthcare system through patient portals. SUMMARY: Adolescents realize the benefits portals may offer regarding improved understanding of their health conditions, communication with their providers, and autonomy in their healthcare decisions. However, confidentiality of patient portals is a major concern and a potential barrier to adolescent portal utilization. Adolescent providers should be aware of the limitations of portal systems and advocate for improved confidentiality functionality to ensure teens can access the benefits of patient portals without any harm.

Sexual Health and Communication Between Foster Youth and Their Caregivers.

PURPOSE: Foster youth are at increased risk for negative sexual health outcomes and rarely receive the information or social/familial support needed to reduce risks. Foster and kinship caregivers report lacking the information and skills needed to effectively talk to youth in their care about sexual health. In a sample of caregivers from 2 large urban jurisdictions, our goals were to: 1) describe caregiver sexual health variables including communication and monitoring characteristics; and 2) assess associations between self-reported emotion regulation and caregiver-youth conflict and these variables. METHODS: We administered surveys to foster and kinship caregivers in New York, New York and Los Angeles, California. Surveys assessed caregiver emotion regulation, caregiver-youth conflict, sexual/reproductive health knowledge, communication expectations and behaviors, and caregiver monitoring/youth disclosure. We generated descriptive statistics for all variables (aim 1) then performed multivariate regression analyses for aim 2. RESULTS: Our sample included 127 foster and kinship caregivers who were primarily female (92%) and African American (55%). Most reported having >4 years of caregiving experience with foster youth (66%). On average, caregivers answered sexual health knowledge questions correctly 68% of the time. Caregiver-youth conflict was the only variable significantly associated with assessed sexual health variables; it was inversely associated with percent correct on the knowledge scale, outcomes expectations, number of topics discussed, and monitoring/disclosure. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that caregiver-youth conflict behaviors are related to sexual health knowledge, communication, and monitoring variables. Further prospective and longitudinal investigation is warranted to better characterize the complex relationship between these variables.

Telemedicine for Adolescent and Young Adult Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Follow-Up Care amidst a Global Pandemic.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe adolescent and young adult (AYA) long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) follow-up care via telemedicine in the year following the COVID-19 pandemic onset DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study SETTING: Three academic adolescent medicine clinics in the United States PARTICIPANTS: AYAs using LARC INTERVENTIONS: None MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were patient characteristics, visit information (frequency, timing, and modality), patient-reported symptoms, and outcomes for those presenting for LARC follow-up care between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. χ2 tests and t tests were used to compare groups. Adjusted logistic regression models using general estimating equations were applied to assess factors associated with telemedicine visits and to examine visit outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 319 AYAs (ages 13.6-25.7 years), 40.1% attended at least one LARC telemedicine visit. Patients attending any telemedicine encounter vs only in-person visits had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Of the 426 follow-up visits, 270 (63.4%) were conducted in person and 156 (36.6%) were performed via telemedicine. Most visits (62.7%) occurred within 12 months of device insertion. Reports of bothersome uterine bleeding beyond patient expectations (OR = 1.26; 95% CI, 0.80-1.96), any symptom (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 0.94-2.10), or 2 or more symptoms (OR = 1.22; 95% CI, 0.67-2.22) at follow-up was not associated, positively or negatively, with mode of follow-up. Management of bleeding (OR = 1.27; 95% CI, 0.56-2.89), management of acne (P = .46), and need for rapid follow-up (P = .33) were similar between follow-up modalities. CONCLUSIONS: Patient demographic/clinical characteristics and visit outcomes were similar between telemedicine and in-person LARC follow-up. Telemedicine could play an important role in AYA LARC care.

The Use of "Natural" Substances for Menstrual Hygiene: A Case Report of an Embedded Vaginal Sea Sponge.

BACKGROUND: In early adolescence, irregular menstrual bleeding patterns are common and are frequently due to anovulatory cycles or bleeding disorders. As such, the diagnosis of a vaginal foreign body might initially be missed. CASE: We describe a 14-year-old adolescent female presenting with ongoing irregular menstrual spotting despite reassuring laboratory workup and ultrasonography. She was found to have an embedded vaginal sea sponge eroding through the vaginal wall. On further discussion, she reported using a natural sea sponge for menstrual blood absorption. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: In cases of persistent vaginal spotting, vaginal foreign body should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Use of nontraditional menstrual hygiene products could lead to medical complications and negative health outcomes in adolescents.

Evaluating the Educational Impact of Telehealth on Adolescent Medicine Trainees: a Qualitative Approach.

Purpose of Review: Telehealth has been swiftly incorporated into clinical practice since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with limited understanding of how it affects trainees' educational experiences. Our study evaluates the impact of telehealth on clinical education in pediatric and Adolescent Medicine trainees during the pandemic. Recent Findings: Previous literature on telehealth focused on provider and patient perceptions in addition to clinical education for students, though none has evaluated the experiences of medical residents and fellows in Adolescent Medicine. Summary: Trainees reported enhanced opportunities for bidirectional observation with attending physicians, increased flexibility for the trainee and families, and the opportunity to engage with adolescents in their home environment. Drawbacks include decreased physical exam skill-building and technological difficulties that can interrupt the learning experience. Telehealth is a valuable tool in clinical education and innovative strategies are needed to refine and enhance these educational experiences for pediatric and Adolescent Medicine trainees.

The Impact of Telehealth on Clinical Education in Adolescent Medicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Positive Preliminary Findings.

Purpose: Following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, much of clinical care rapidly transitioned to telehealth, shifting the clinical training milieu for most trainees. In the wake of this shift, educators have attempted to keep learners engaged in patient care and optimize medical education as much as possible. There is, however, limited understanding of the effect of telehealth on clinical education. The aim of our study was to better understand the educational experience of pediatric and Adolescent Medicine trainees participating in clinical encounters via telehealth in a specialty consultation Adolescent Medicine Clinic at a quaternary pediatric care hospital. Methods: Using a web-based anonymous questionnaire, we surveyed trainees rotating through the Adolescent Medicine Clinic between March and June 2020. We used descriptive statistics to evaluate their experiences with telehealth and identify techniques that were effective to facilitate learning during a telehealth visit. Results: Surveys from 12 pediatric and Adolescent Medicine trainees were received, a 75% response rate. Most trainees (83.3%) reported no prior experience with telehealth before the onset of the pandemic. By the end of their rotation, trainees identified techniques that helped facilitate learning during a telehealth visit. The majority of trainees (83.3%) rated their experience as effective or very effective, and all reported interest in incorporating telehealth into their future practice. Conclusions: Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine trainees reported overall positive experiences with telehealth in clinical education and an interest in incorporating this tool into future practice. Additional research is needed to refine techniques in engaging learners through telehealth.

Perspectives on the use of a health surveillance system for Guatemalan youth: a stakeholder analysis.

In Guatemala, adolescent health indicators are collected using the Sistema Informático del Adolescente (SIA), a clinical survey developed by the Pan-American Health Organization. Recent analysis revealed significant gaps in data, limiting the ability of clinicians and policy makers to effectively address health disparities. Our objective was to explore adolescent health stakeholders' perceptions of the SIA. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 clinic personnel recruited from six adolescent health clinics throughout Guatemala. Stakeholders included multi-disciplinary providers and key database personnel. Interviews were conducted in Spanish, recorded and transcribed; a coding scheme was developed using a phenomenological approach, and Dedoose was used for analysis. Four major themes emerged: (1) Collecting baseline adolescent health data was useful for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of adolescent health issues. (2) The SIA was instrumental in streamlining clinical care and informing the psychosocial needs of patients. (3) The questionnaire was time-intensive, repetitive and often problematic for data input/extraction. (4) Condensing the survey and using a web-based version may improve the system for future use. Our findings show that despite the use of a standardized system, multiple barriers contribute to gaps in comprehensive data collection in Guatemala. Refining the system may enhance adolescent health surveillance and improve quality of care in this vulnerable population.

Guatemala City youth: an analysis of health indicators through the lens of a clinical registry.

BACKGROUND: Despite the inclusion of adolescent health in recent global frameworks, limited data exist on health indicators in low-income countries. Our objective was to identify socioeconomic measures, risk behaviors and health indicators of young people in Guatemala. METHODS: We conducted a secondary data analysis of the Pan American Health Organization's Sistema Informático del Adolescente of 2831 participants ages 10-24 y from 2008 to 2014. We examined frequencies for a core set of items, and generalized regression models assessed correlations between age, sex and ethnicity with health outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Fewer than 17% of participants reported a history of chronic illness (16.6%) and severe psychological problems (16.8%). While 66.1% of participants' mothers and 36.6% of fathers reported job instability, far fewer families had housing instability (1.9% with no electricity, 6.3% with no running water). Fewer than one-third (29.1%) were sexually active and the majority (76.0%) routinely used condoms. About one-quarter (22.6%) reported abnormal mood. Indigenous participants were significantly more likely to have experienced psychological problems (odds ratio [OR] 1.75 [confidence interval {CI} 1.65-1.86]) and violence (OR 1.34 [CI 1.27-1.42]) compared with whites. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of risk behaviors and mental health concerns is low compared with other sources of national and regional data. Further work is needed to examine the benefits and limitations of this system in order to improve health surveillance.

A global perspective: training opportunities in Adolescent Medicine for healthcare professionals.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The review briefly describes the current state of adolescent health globally, and highlights current educational and training opportunities in Adolescent Medicine for healthcare providers worldwide. RECENT FINDINGS: Despite a growing body of literature demonstrating a shift toward recognizing Adolescent Medicine as a subspecialty, there are very few countries that offer nationally recognized Adolescent Medicine training programs. In recent years, several countries have begun to offer educational programming, such as noncredentialed short training programs, conferences, and online courses. Challenges, including cultural barriers, financing, and lack of governmental recognition and support, have hindered progress in the development of accredited training programs globally. SUMMARY: It is crucial to support efforts for sustainable training programs, especially within low and middle-income countries where a majority of the world's adolescent population lives. Sharing knowledge of existing curriculums, programs, and systems will increase opportunities globally to build regional capacity, increase access to interdisciplinary services, and to implement health-promoting policies for youth worldwide.