Emergency Department Directors Are Willing to Expand Reproductive Health Services for Adolescents

Abstract

Study Objective-Nearly 20 million adolescents receive emergency department (ED) care each year, many of whom have untreated reproductive health issues. ED visits represent an opportunity to provide appropriate care, however ED physician reproductive healthcare practices and capabilities in the United States have not been described. We sought to characterize pediatric ED director's individual practice and ED system resources for providing adolescent reproductive healthcare. Design, Setting, Participants, and Intervention-We invited pediatric ED division and/or medical directors nationally to participate in an anonymous, online survey. Main Outcome Measures-Outcomes included ED directors' personal practice regarding providing adolescent patients reproductive healthcare, and their ED's resources and standard practice regarding screening adolescents for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other reproductive health concerns.

Fertility Age Couples Motivation On Cervical Cancer Early Detection

“…In the article by ((Smith et al, 2014) (Ahmad et al, 2019). Women might not participate in cervical cancer screening (cultural, language, geographic, and access to sample barriers).…”

A multi‐media digital intervention to improve the sexual and reproductive health of female adolescent emergency department patients

“…5 Although female ED patients are receptive to initiating effective contraceptive methods, ED physicians are reluctant to initiate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care due to the competing demands in the ED such as high volumes and acuity. 6,7 Since few patients follow up to outpatient SRH services when referred, behavioral change interventions beginning with an ED visit could be critical opportunities to fill the gap in the SRH health care. 4,8 Similar to other successful ED-based programs, an intervention that aims to improve adolescent SRH should be evidence-based and multidisciplinary with ED providers working as a comprehensive team to create a program that fits the needs of local population.…”

“…Adolescent ED patients are often sexually active and inconsistently using contraceptives 5 . Although female ED patients are receptive to initiating effective contraceptive methods, ED physicians are reluctant to initiate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care due to the competing demands in the ED such as high volumes and acuity 6,7 . Since few patients follow up to outpatient SRH services when referred, behavioral change interventions beginning with an ED visit could be critical opportunities to fill the gap in the SRH health care 4,8 .…”

Contraception Provision in the Emergency Department: Are We Ready to Overcome the Obstacles?

“…Medical directors are receptive to pregnancy prevention interventions. 26 If we can design novel ways to weave contraceptive provision in to the ED workflow, such as using technology or outside assistance such as health educators, we may be closer to finding the middle ground in which our female patients are receiving the evidence-based patient-centered reproductive counseling they not only need but also deserve.…”