Measuring oral contraceptive knowledge: A review of research findings and limitations

Abstract

Objective Poor oral contraceptive (OC) knowledge may contribute to premature OC discontinuation and unintended pregnancy. Yet, to understand relationships between OC knowledge and contraceptive behavior, knowledge must be adequately measured. This review evaluates the findings and methodological limitations of research in which OC knowledge has been measured. Methods We performed a systematic review of primary research from January 1965 to January 2009. Studies were audited for study characteristics, purpose for measuring OC knowledge, key findings and measurement properties including administration method, knowledge domains, reliability, validity, health literacy and cultural sensitivity. Results We reviewed 21 studies: 18 cohort studies, including one psychometric evaluation, and three randomized trials. Results on OC knowledge outcomes were variable. Measures were largely self-administered survey (n = 15) and lacked assessment of all OC knowledge domains. Information on measures’ characteristics, reliability, validity, health literacy and cultural sensitivity was limited. Conclusion Existing OC knowledge measures lack critical psychometric elements, leading to inconsistent and unreliable findings. Practice Implications Poor OC knowledge measurement precludes identifying counseling needs and developing interventions for contraceptive behavior change. Future research considerations include: measurement information in publications, psychometric evaluations, formal reliability/validity techniques, and attention to all OC knowledge domains, health literacy and cultural sensitivity.

Saudi Women Information About Two Selected Contraceptive Methods in Riyadh

“…In accordance, other studies remarked that Oral contraceptive (OC) knowledge deficits might contribute to OC discontinuation [12,13]. A woman's understanding of information related to OCs may play a critical role, directly or indirectly in facilitating or inhibiting successful OC use.…”

The Effect of Structured Counseling towards Knowledge, Attitude, and Participation of Modern Contraceptive among Unmet Need Couples

“…These results were supported by study of Gaudet and colleagues finding that women who had received oral contraceptives counseling had better knowledge than women who did not. 8 Complete information provide flexibility to clients and partner in deciding the choice of contraceptive used, and hence decrease the number of dropouts, unwanted pregnancies, and improve the consistency and accuracy of the contraceptive use. 9 Structured counseling is proven to be able to increase positive attitudes to modern contraceptive among the unmet need fertile couples.…”

Informasjonsbehov til unge jenter ved p-pillebruk

“…Mangelfull kunnskap om p-piller kan føre til avsluttet bruk og uønsket graviditet hos unge jenter (5). Unge jenter som bruker p-piller, har rett på informasjon om generell bruk av medikamentet samt mulige risiko og bivirkninger (6).…”

“…Den samme tendensen vises i internasjonale studier (5,10,11). Det er utarbeidet standardisert brukerinformasjon om p-piller (12), men det kan likevel vaere vanskelig å vite hvor mye informasjon man skal gi til en ung jente som starter på p-piller (3).…”

“…Studien viser til studier fra 1983, 1994 og 2004, og vi har ikke funnet nyere relevante studier. En litteraturstudie fra 2010 som kartlegger kunnskap om p-piller, viste at disse studiene er mangelfulle og at feltet har stort behov for ytterligere forskning (5 Hensikten med denne studien var todelt: 1) å kartlegge og belyse unge jenters informasjonsbehov knyttet til p-piller og p-pillebruk og 2) å sammenlikne informasjonsbehovet knyttet til p-piller og p-pillebruk for de yngste og de eldste i gruppen av jenter som helsesøster siden 2002 har forskrevet p-piller til.…”