179409 Emergency Contraception Education and Outreach Project, New York City

Wednesday, October 29, 2008: 12:30 PM

Julia E. Kohn, MPA , Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY
Phoebe Browne, MPH , Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY
Nyanda Labor, MPH , Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health, New York City Deptartment of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY
Cristina Yunzal-Butler, PhD , Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY
Delia Easton, PhD , Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY
Four organizations were selected through a competitive process to implement a 3-year Emergency Contraception Education and Outreach Project overseen by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH), with the goals of increasing access to and awareness of EC.

The four orgnaizations are using multiple strategies to achieve these goals, including provider education, advance provision of EC, integrating EC information into pregnancy prevention messages, and social marketing campaigns. While each organization is conducting its own internal evaluation, NYCDOHMH is coordinating an evaluation of the two activities performed across sites: provision of EC and education of health professionals.

EC distribution is tracked through monthly logs submitted by each organization. Change in knowledge and attitude of health professionals is assessed through pre- and post- tests distributed at each training session.

The first year of the project resulted in increased EC provision, increased knowledge, and increased favorable attitudes. A total of 8188 pill packs and prescriptions were distributed; 68% of the total provision was in advance of need, 75% was pills (vs. prescriptions), and 38% was to recipients age 19 or younger. EC provision increased over baseline due in part to revised protocols and policies regarding provider dispensing practices and due to contract funds used to purchase the previously unaffordable drug.

Results of the pre/post tests found significant knowledge gain and improved attitudes among health professionals. Notably, increased knowledge about EC's safety and mechanism of action suggest that increased knowledge of and comfort with the drug may positively influence provider dispensing practices.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the strategies used by four NYCDOHMH-funded organizations to increase knowledge and improve attitudes about EC among health care professionals 2. Describe the preliminary results of the project regarding EC distribution and provider education. 3. Apply lessons learned from the project’s collaborative approach, cross-site evaluation, and preliminary results to their own efforts.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The presentation will discuss use of Plan B emergency contraceptive outside of the FDA's recommended timeframe (i.e., use after 72 hours post-intercourse).

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently overseeing the Emergency Contraception Education & Outreach Project and am responsible for the project evaluation. I hold an MPA and have over seven years of experience in the field of reproductive health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.