MedPath

Study of the Implementation of Telehealth-Supported LARC Provision in School-Based Health Centers

Conditions
Long Acting Reversible Contraception
Contraception Behavior
Interventions
Behavioral: Telehealth-supported LARC provision
Registration Number
NCT04840836
Lead Sponsor
Columbia University
Brief Summary

This is a prospective observational cohort study that will include SBHC patients at the 6 participating SBHCs who receive a telehealth reproductive health visit as part of their care. Information will be collected during patient interviews in the follow-up observation period regarding LARC initiation, satisfaction and continuation.

Aim 1. Quantify uptake of LARC (contraceptive implant, IUD) within the SBHC network following implementation of telehealth-supported LARC provision.

Aim 2: Describe the implementation of telehealth-supported long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) service provision in school-based health centers (SBHCs) using mixed methods.

Aim 3: Quantify LARC continuation, as in absolute continuation rate 12 months post-initiation, with analyses also examining continuation at 6 months follow-up period, among LARC initiators within the SBHC network following implementation of telehealth-supported LARC provision.

Aim 4: Compare continuation rates across dimensions of telehealth experience.

Detailed Description

Long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are safe and effective for adolescents, but low rates of use among this population and early discontinuation due to method dissatisfaction limits their potential to reduce unintended pregnancy. Reducing barriers for obtaining LARCs by adolescents who want to use them is key in reducing risk of unintended pregnancy. Data will be collected from patients who are receiving same-day LARC as a part of their normal care via telehealth services in school-based health centers (SBHCs). This implementation model, therefore, has the potential for replication and scale-up with wide reach. The findings from this study, given the SBHC setting, have the potential to inform and improve LARC service delivery for adolescents far beyond New York City and the SBHC setting.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
113
Inclusion Criteria
  • an enrolled patient at the participating SBHC
  • age 13-22 years
  • female
  • had a visit at the SBHC during the study period that is coded as a "reproductive health visit" including contraceptive counseling, contraceptive management, and contraceptive method initiation

Exclusion Criteria (specifically for Aims 2 and 3):

  • are younger than age 13 years
  • are older than age 22
  • are not an enrolled patient of the participating SBHCs
  • did not initiate a LARC method
  • are a person without a uterus
  • are unable to read, speak, and understand either English or Spanish
Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Telehealth-supported LARC provisionTelehealth-supported LARC provisionPatients who receive care at the SBHC provide informed consent for care, as well as record review for quality assurance purposes. Analyses will include female patients who have a "reproductive health visit," which includes contraceptive counseling, contraceptive management, or contraceptive method initiation, during the study period. Patients who have a telehealth consultation with a SBHC medical provider for LARC services (conservatively estimated n=113) will be considered enrolled patients once the data are extracted from the EHR.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Uptake of LARC (contraceptive implant, IUD) within the SBHC network following implementation of telehealth-supported LARC provisionUp to 2 years

Among all patients who had a telehealth visit for contraceptive counseling, quantify the number/rate of telehealth LARC consultations and LARC initiations overall, and compare by LARC type (contraceptive implant vs. IUD) using data collected from patient interviews.

Proportion of patients reported being satisfied with telehealth-supported careUp to 2 years

A qualitative interview and a quantitative survey will be used to assess LARC patients' experience and satisfaction with telehealth-supported care. Patients will be assessed by investigator as satisfied or not satisfied based on their responses.

Change in LARC continuation rate over a follow-up period among LARC initiators within the SBHC network following implementation of telehealth-supported LARC provisionAt 6 months and 12 months post LARC initiation

Using EHR data for all patients who initiated LARC, investigator will use Kaplan-Meier survival curves to assess LARC discontinuation overall, and Cox proportional hazard models to compare LARC continuation by LARC type. Continuation rates will be expressed both as rates at 6 months and 12 months post-initiation, and using Kaplan-Meier curves to model discontinuation.

Continuation rate across dimensions of telehealth experienceUp to 2 years

Merging electronic health record (EHR) data on method continuation with baseline survey data on the telehealth experience, we will compare, using Cox proportional hazard models, continuation (overall and within LARC type): by telehealth experience (e.g. satisfaction with telehealth).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath