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

Abstract #115984

Tracy Weitz, MPA¹, Heather Gould, MPH¹, Abigail Breckenridge¹, Diana L. Greene-Foster, PhD², and Felicia Stewart, MD². (1) ANSIRH Program; Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy and the Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, Box 1744, 2356 Sutter St., Ste 200, San Francisco, CA 94143-1744, (415) 514-1440, weitzt@obgyn.ucsf.edu, (2) Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 265, San Francisco, CA 94118

The project Promoting Comprehensive Reproductive Healthcare in California's Communities sought to expand women's access to reproductive health services by increasing physicians' knowledge and delivery of underutilized contraceptive and abortion health technologies. Specifically, this project focused on increasing physicians' provision of three new reproductive health technologies: emergency contraception (EC), mifepristone, and manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and on increasing providers' participation in the state family planning (FamilyPACT) program by using a well-tested technique known as “academic detailing.” Academic Detailing uses clinician health educators to provide evidence-based information to physicians face-to-face in their offices and has been shown to improve service delivery in several other non-reproductive areas of healthcare. Primary practice providers (family practice, obstetrician/gynecologists, and internists) in 8 underserved California counties (4 intervention and 4 control) were selected for study participation. This paper presents results from the baseline and follow-up surveys which measured physician knowledge, attitudes, and practices about EC, mifepristone, MVA, and FamilyPACT before and after a six month “academic detailing” intervention. Augmenting this data is qualitative data collected by the clinician educators engaged in the process of conducting the “academic detailing.” Based on these results, recommendations for expanded use of “academic detailing” as a strategy to promote evidence-based reproductive health among professionals' practice in underserved communities will be presented.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the components of academic detailing to promote evidence-based health care
• Discuss the advantages and limitations of this technique for promoting evidence-based reproductive health care
• Assess the value of direct face-to-face education as a means to change knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding abortion care
• Articulate the value of expanded access to reproductive technologies among California’s underserved communities

Keywords: Abortion, Access to Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: This presentation describes a project that used academic detailing to promote 2 products used off-label: Mifepristone/misoprostol and 2) Plan B.

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.

Recorded presentation