Utilizing Electronic Medical Record Referrals for Teratogen and Contraceptive Counseling for Women Taking Category D or X Medications: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Approximately 6% of pregnancies in the United States are exposed to potentially teratogenic medications. Birth defects due to prenatal exposure to teratogenic medications are among the only truly preventable types of congenital anomalies. However, despite the risk of unintended pregnancies exposed to potentially teratogenic medications, women prescribed category D or X medications do not use more effective contraception then the general population. These women also are not more compliant with short acting methods such as oral contraceptives. The electronic medical record provides an unique opportunity to identify women taking potentially teratogenic medications and offer interdisciplinary teratogen and contraceptive counseling. These women specifically may benefit from more counseling about long acting reversible contraception while they are taking a potentially teratogenic medication.

Previous studies have revealed that women want more counseling regarding a potentially teratogenic medication when it is prescribed even if they are not planning a pregnancy or sexually active. In addition to desiring more teratogen counseling, these women may benefit from more contraceptive counseling. Eisenberg et al. identified that time constraint is one of the major barriers to providing adequate contraceptive counseling by an internist to women taking potentially teratogenic medications. Many internists in the Eisenberg study believed that an EMR alert would be worthwhile. In addition, approximately two-thirds of the internists in the Eisenberg study agreed that "a referral or telephone consultation service for assistance in providing appropriate contraception for women on potential teratogens would be useful." In order to improve the contraceptive counseling among women prescribed potentially teratogenic medications, the investigators for the proposed project have been conducting collaborative research for the past two years with the Family Medicine and the California Teratogen Information Service (CTIS). First, the investigators conducted a cross-sectional study to assess contraceptive utilization among women prescribed category D or X medications. Investigators obtained access to the EMR of women seen in an academic Family Medicine Department between April 2011 to April 2012 who were taking a category D or X medication. Information was abstracted regarding the specific category D or X medication, demographics, sexual activity and the contraceptive method. There were a total of 610 women included in this study. Among the 610 women, 72 (11.8%) of women had documentation in the EMR that they were not asked about their sexual activity. Sexual activity with men was documented in 407 of the 610 women. Of the 407 women who were sexually active with men, 132 (32.4%) had no contraceptive method documented in the EMR. Despite the importance of avoiding an unintended pregnancy in women taking teratogens, the contraceptive utilization rate is similar to the national average (38% of 15-44 year olds reported not using a contraceptive method). In addition, among the women using contraception, the most common contraceptive method was oral contraceptives, which is very user dependent with a typical failure rate of 9%. In fact, the oral contraceptive compliance rate for women taking teratogens is the same as the national compliance rate.

Next, we conducted a descriptive pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and patient satisfaction with an EMR alert and referral system. This intervention was chosen since the Eisenberg study identified the time constraint issue, the acceptability of EMR alert, and the acceptability of the telephone consultation service. Women of reproductive age who were seen by a Family Medicine clinician at a UCSD Medical Center clinic with access to the EMR were included in the pilot study. If a woman of reproductive age was seen by a Family Medicine clinician and she was currently taking or was newly prescribed a category D or X medications, an EMR electronic alert was be generated for the clinician. The alert said "This patient may benefit from a referral to the CTIS Information Line for counseling," click "Accept" or "Decline". The alert was purposefully created so it is easier to accept the referral. If the Family Medicine clinician clicked "Decline" then a reason must be given for declining the referral. If the clinician decided a referral is appropriate, he/she clicked "Accept" and informed the patient that she will be contacted by CTIS. The referral was also included in the patient instructions.

Within one month of the referral, a CTIS counselor contacted the patient and reviewed the category D or X medication and potential effects if the patient were to become pregnant as well as contraceptive options. The counseling included some information about the efficacy of each contraceptive method. She was instructed that she could return to her Family Medicine clinician for contraceptive service delivery. She was also offered a referral to Reproductive Medicine at UCSD for further counseling. The referring Family Medicine clinician was then informed of the outcome of the referral via an EMR communication. Following counseling a phone interview was used to assess contraceptive utilization and motivation. In addition a satisfaction survey completed. Contraceptive utilization was assessed using a modified version of Module 5 of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Participant satisfaction was assessed using a Likert scale.

Among 25 participants in the pilot study, 11 (44%) women were using oral contraceptives, 7 (28%) women were using condoms, 3 (12%) women were using withdrawal, 2 (8%) women were using the IUD, 1 (4%) woman was using vaginal contraceptive ring and 1 (4%) woman was not using contraception. Among the women using oral contraceptive, the majority of the women underestimated the typical failure rate. Among the women using contraception, only 2 women stated that they chose their current contraceptive method based on the effectiveness in preventing pregnancy. After receiving the teratogen and contraceptive counseling, 25% of women using contraception were considering using a more effective contraceptive method. The women were also asked about when they would want a child, the most common response was wanting a child in 2-5 years. Satisfaction with the referral system and counseling was high. Approximately 96% of participants strongly agreed or agreed that the information they received on contraceptive options was helpful.