One-time provider training has lasting impacts on patient-centered LARC counseling

Access to birth control depends on a provider’s ability and willingness to provide it, so solutions that lead to offering high-quality, comprehensive counseling are essential.
New research from the Bixby Center and Planned Parenthood offers an efficient solution for clinics that are strapped for resources to reach underserved populations with a full range of contraceptive options.
Clinicians and health educators in Planned Parenthood health centers in 15 states were offered a 4-hour University of California San Francisco-accredited continuing education course that shared updated evidence on IUDs and implants and hands-on training on IUD insertion and contraceptive counseling.
The study shows significant changes in providers’ attitudes, knowledge and practices in the group that received the training. This group saw increases in:
- belief that IUDs and implants are safe;
- feeling that they were experienced to counsel on IUDs and implants;
- knowledge about which patients were eligible for LARC; and
- routinely discussing LARC in contraceptive counseling.
The impact of the efficient training session endured over time and despite staff turnover at the health centers.
This provider training is a scalable solution that can help providers around the country to increase their knowledge and comfort with LARC and support informed, patient-centered contraceptive counseling.