Improving Physician Knowledge: A Necessary but Not Sufficient Requirement of Improving Intrauterine Contraception Access in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to identify knowledge gaps and attitudinal barriers to prescribing intrauterine contraception (IUC). METHODS: A national, Web-based survey of Canadian gynaecology (GYN) and family medicine (FM) physicians was conducted. The survey was distributed through several channels, including physicians' databases, invitations through a commercial email aggregating service, and contacting residency programs. For knowledge-based questions, correct answers were those consistent with Canadian practice guidelines. Ethics approval was granted through Queen's Health Sciences Research Ethics Board. Project funding was through a research grant from Bayer, Inc. (Canadian Task Force Classification III). RESULTS: A total of 600 responses were received. GYN physicians' knowledge about IUC (number correct / 40) was better than that of the FM and FM with additional women's health training (FMWH) groups (median [interquartile range] 39 [37-40], 36 [32-38], and 37 [35-39]; P < 0.0001). Factors associated with lower scores included rural practice location, lack of affiliation with medical trainees, extremes of practice duration, and self-perceived lack of knowledge about IUC. Most respondents prescribed IUC (93.7%). Among prescribers, 97.0% inserted IUC. The most common reasons for not prescribing or inserting IUC included lack of training, lack of comfort, and referral to other physicians to provide this service. Respondents indicated that they would be more likely to prescribe and/or insert IUC if cost barriers were removed, patient interest was increased, or if there was improved access to patient-centred educational materials and hands-on training modules. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that although many GYN and FM physicians are offering IUC, misconceptions regarding contraindications still exist, and several barriers are related to deficiencies in providers' knowledge. Therefore, educational efforts should be prioritized to increase the usage of IUC.

Ten Challenges in Contraception.

Despite the introduction of promising products into the contraceptive market, the rate of unintended pregnancies remains high. Women with underlying medical conditions should have access to safe and effective contraceptive methods for various reasons, including the potential deleterious effect of the disease on the pregnancy or the effect of the pregnancy on the disease process. Healthcare providers are often confronted with cases in which contraception counseling is problematic due to controversial evidence and persistent myths. This review will examine a number of medical conditions that often create contraception counseling challenges. It should in no way be considered as an extensive review of all contraceptive options for a given medical condition. The following topics will be explored: depression, immunosuppression, inflammatory bowel diseases, past bariatric surgery, liver diseases, family history of breast cancer, migraines, polycystic ovarian syndrome, perimenopausal state, and sickle cell disease. We advocate for improved information and accessibility to contraception as a means of decreasing the rate of unintended pregnancies.