Learner Poster

Assessing Healthcare Professional and Student Comfortability with Contraceptives and Their Devices Before and After a Hands-on Interprofessional Education Event

Maegan Casimir

Pharm-D Student

West Virginia University

Heather Johnson, PharmD, BCACP

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Family Medicine

West Virginia University

Angela Goodhart, PharmD, BCACP

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Family Medicine

West Virginia University

Sidney Sisson, MD

Assistant Professor, Associate Residency Program Director – Department of Family Medicine

West Virginia University

Krista Capehart, PharmD, MSPharm, BCACP, FAPhA, AE-C

Professor

West Virginia University

Post an X about this session

Track:

Building the Evidence Base for Interprofessional Practice and Education

Attendee IPE Experience Track: Some experience with IPE

Keywords: contraceptiveseducationsurvey data

Session handout: Log in to view the attachment.

One aim of Healthy People 2030 is to reduce unintended pregnancies and increase family planning. Improving access to contraceptives and providing appropriate education on how to use contraceptive devices are crucial to this. One medical resident recognized that his coresidents did not feel confident in this area and decided to partner with a student pharmacist to improve this knowledge deficit. The aim of this project was to assemble an interprofessional team to educate students and professionals from multiple disciplines about prescribing and providing care of contraceptives and their devices as well as how various disciplines contribute in this field.

A live learning event was scheduled for March 2024. Email invitations were sent out to healthcare students at one university and practicing professionals around the community. To gauge baseline data on participant knowledge, comfortability, and opinions, a pre-survey was created that had to be completed in order to register for the event. The event was 90 minutes and provided didactic education as well as hands-on experience with contraceptives and their devices from presenters including PharmDs, MDs, and a PA-C. A post-survey was given following the event. Participants were incentivized with free dinner. Funds were provided via an institutional interprofessional education grant.

There were 71 total responses (44 pre-survey responses and 27 post-event responses). Participants included students and professionals from Pharm-D, MD, and PA, and 100% of attendees strongly agreed the event was beneficial. Results showed increases in comfortability and knowledge of contraceptives, their laws, side effects, and counseling points. Additionally, post-survey results favored agree and strongly agree when asked about if pharmacists can prescribe contraceptives and if they should be prescribing more. Finally, 100% of pre- and post-survey responses agreed or strongly agreed that interprofessional education (IPE) is required in and improves healthcare.

Results showed the goals of the event were met due to the positive survey responses. Participants left the live event with an increased comfortability and knowledge of contraceptives as well as an increased understanding of the role of specific disciplines and IPE at large in this field.

The biggest challenge was recruitment. Because of this, efforts are beginning earlier to increase the sample size and discipline representation. Due to the positive feedback and need for more incentive, researchers are working with individual programs to try and have the event be for credit and/or required for students and making it approved for continuing education for professionals.