TY - JOUR
T1 - Contraceptive counselling experiences in Spain in the process of creating a web-based contraceptive decision support tool
T2 - a qualitative study
AU - Reyes-Martí, Laura
AU - Rubio-Rico, Lourdes
AU - Ortega-Sanz, Laura
AU - Raigal-Aran, Laia
AU - de la Flor-López, Miriam
AU - Roca-Biosca, Alba
AU - Valls-Fonayet, Francesc
AU - Moharra-Francés, Montse
AU - Escuriet-Peiro, Ramon
AU - de Molina-Fernández, María Inmaculada
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the study participants and the Nursing Department. Rovira i Virgili University.
Funding Information:
Based on a pilot study, we are currently evaluating whether the use in consultation of “SHARECONTRACEPT”, a DST in hormonal contraception, corresponding to the 1st Phase of the “Contraception” DST, improves adherence to treatment, user satisfaction, decisional conflicts, counsellor or clinician satisfaction, and the knowledge acquired. This research project has received a grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through competitive call FIS 18 for Health research projects, of the Carlos III Health Institute and has been recently published [].
Funding Information:
The process of creating the web-based contraceptive decision support tool, in which this study is framed, was funded by the Catalan Agency for Health quality and Evaluation (AQuAs) of the Department of Health of the Government of Catalonia (T16154S and T17186S agreements) and the Catalan Health Service (Public Agreement ref. SCS-2020-316).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Background: The choice of contraceptive method is a complex decision, and professionals should offer counselling based on the preferences, values and personal situation of the user(s). Some users are unsatisfied with the counselling received, which may, among other consequences, adversely affect method use adherence. In view of this situation, we propose exploring the experiences and needs of users and professionals for contraceptive counselling, in the context of creating a web-based contraceptive decision support tool. Methods/design: Qualitative research was conducted through focus group discussions (64 users split into eight groups, and 19 professionals in two groups, in Tarragona, Spain) to explore the subjects’ experiences and needs. The data were categorized and the categories were defined and classified based on the three-step protocol or framework for Quality on Contraceptive Counseling (QCC), created by experts, which reviews the quality of interactions between user and professional during the counselling process. Results: In counselling, users demand more information about the different methods, in an environment of erroneous knowledge and misinformation, which lead to false beliefs and myths in the population that are not contrasted by the professional in counselling. They complain that the method is imposed on them and that their views regarding the decision are not considered. Professionals are concerned that their lack of training leads to counselling directed towards the methods they know best. They acknowledge that a paternalistic paradigm persists in the healthcare they provide, and decision support tools may help to improve the situation. Conclusions: Users feel unsatisfied and/or demand more information and a warmer, more caring approach. Professionals are reluctant to assume a process of shared decision-making. The use of a contraception DST website may solve some shortcomings in counselling detected in our environment.
AB - Background: The choice of contraceptive method is a complex decision, and professionals should offer counselling based on the preferences, values and personal situation of the user(s). Some users are unsatisfied with the counselling received, which may, among other consequences, adversely affect method use adherence. In view of this situation, we propose exploring the experiences and needs of users and professionals for contraceptive counselling, in the context of creating a web-based contraceptive decision support tool. Methods/design: Qualitative research was conducted through focus group discussions (64 users split into eight groups, and 19 professionals in two groups, in Tarragona, Spain) to explore the subjects’ experiences and needs. The data were categorized and the categories were defined and classified based on the three-step protocol or framework for Quality on Contraceptive Counseling (QCC), created by experts, which reviews the quality of interactions between user and professional during the counselling process. Results: In counselling, users demand more information about the different methods, in an environment of erroneous knowledge and misinformation, which lead to false beliefs and myths in the population that are not contrasted by the professional in counselling. They complain that the method is imposed on them and that their views regarding the decision are not considered. Professionals are concerned that their lack of training leads to counselling directed towards the methods they know best. They acknowledge that a paternalistic paradigm persists in the healthcare they provide, and decision support tools may help to improve the situation. Conclusions: Users feel unsatisfied and/or demand more information and a warmer, more caring approach. Professionals are reluctant to assume a process of shared decision-making. The use of a contraception DST website may solve some shortcomings in counselling detected in our environment.
KW - Adherence
KW - Contraception
KW - Contraceptive counselling
KW - Family planning
KW - Qualitative research methods
KW - Shared decision support tools
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85120079533
U2 - 10.1186/s12978-021-01254-0
DO - 10.1186/s12978-021-01254-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 34838040
AN - SCOPUS:85120079533
SN - 1742-4755
VL - 18
JO - Reproductive Health
JF - Reproductive Health
IS - 1
M1 - 237
ER -