ATTRIBUTES OF PROVIDER COUNSELING ASSOCIATED WITH CONTRACEPTIVE SATISFACTION

Objectives

High-quality contraceptive counseling is associated with increased use of contraception. However, little is known about how counseling influences patient satisfaction with contraceptive method. This study sought to assess characteristics of counseling associated with method satisfaction.

Methods

Pregnant participants aged 21-45 years considering postpartum tubal sterilization were recruited from three sites and randomized to receipt of the MyDecision/MiDecisión decision aid tool vs. standard care. Surveys at three months postpartum included eight Likert scale items characterizing perinatal contraceptive counseling quality, and one item assessing current contraceptive method satisfaction. Response options of “strongly agree” (positively worded items) or “strongly disagree” (negatively worded items) were considered optimal. We examined bivariate associations between optimal counseling and optimal method satisfaction. Logistic regression models were then conducted, adjusted for randomization arm and confounding variables (p<0.10) identified in bivariate analysis (age, site).

Results

Of 244 participants, 160 (65.6%) reported optimal method satisfaction. In bivariate analysis, optimal ratings on feeling respected, feeling pressured into sterilization or other methods, receiving adequate explanations regarding sterilization or other methods, receiving answers to questions, and counseling satisfaction were all associated with optimal method satisfaction (all p<0.01). In adjusted analysis, optimal ratings on feeling respected (adjusted OR (aOR):5.80;95%CI:2.32-14.49), receiving adequate explanations regarding non-sterilization contraception (aOR:2.14;95%CI:1.07-4.30), feeling minimally pressured into non-sterilization methods (aOR:2.30;95%CI:1.01-5.22), receiving answers (aOR:3.35;95%CI:1.43-7.83), and counseling satisfaction (aOR:4.61;95%CI:2.18-9.74) remained significantly associated with method satisfaction.

Conclusions

Aspects of provider contraception counseling that are aligned with patient-centered care are significantly associated with contraceptive method satisfaction. Provision of high-quality contraceptive counseling may have implications both for uptake and continued use of methods.