Confronting myths and fears of family planning through evidence-based medicine


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

3159.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 2

Abstract #104228

Heather Buesseler¹, Tennyson (Don) Levy¹, Fred Tudiver, MD², and Mario Festin, MD³. (1) Center for Private Sector Solutions, Futures Group, One Thomas Circle NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005, 202.775.9680, hbuesseler@futuresgroup.com, (2) James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, 3337 Bondwood Circle, Johnson City, TN 37604, (3) College of Medicine - Department of OB-GYN, University of the Philippines - Manila, Philippine General Hospital, Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila, 1000, Philippines

Fears and misinformation about modern family planning methods are widespread among clients and providers in the Asia/Near East region, creating a major barrier to use. In order to effectively address concerns about contraceptive side effects and disabuse rumors and misconceptions, Futures Group has pioneered evidence-based medicine in family planning (EBM-FP) initiatives in Egypt, Pakistan, India, and the Philippines. This resource-effective approach has the potential to increase use and decrease the dropout rate of modern family planning methods on a large scale. The EBM-FP approach focuses on building capacity in the local medical community to provide evidence-based family planning information to their clients. Local networks are created to institutionalize and promote EBM-FP to the medical community. In ongoing collaboration with local and international experts in the field, such networks are also responsible for developing the body of evidence. The evidence takes the form of critically appraised topics (CATs), which respond to clinical questions regarding contraceptive side effects (e.g., does the pill cause breast cancer). CATs are standardized, concise summaries of the best research evidence, designed to be a transparent, easily digestible resource for the busy clinician. Clinicians are trained to use CATs for evidence-based counseling of family planning clients. Furthermore, CATs are simplified for use in the general media and by lower-level health providers who may not understand sophisticated EBM terminology. The impact of EBM-FP is evaluated through a health provider tracking survey to determine the extent to which evidence-based information improves provider knowledge and effects behavior change among clients.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

1. Define the role of EBM in reducing barriers to modern contraceptive use;
2. Articulate the primary components, including those that ensure sustainability, of the EBM-FP approach; and
3. Analyze and understand critically appraised topics (CATs).

Keywords: Evidence Based Practice, Family Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Health Communication about Chronic Disease and Evidence-based Medicine

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA