Are there unmet needs in contraceptive counselling and choice? Findings of the European TANCO Study

Abstract

Introduction: Effective use of contraception requires women to make an informed choice about methods that match their individual needs and expectations. The European Thinking About Needs in Contraception (TANCO) study is a quantitative, online survey of healthcare provider and women’s views on aspects of counselling around contraception and contraceptive use.

Methods: Healthcare providers and women attending their practices for contraceptive counselling were invited to complete online questionnaires. The women’s survey explored knowledge and use of contraceptive methods, satisfaction with current method, and interest in receiving more information about all methods. Healthcare provider views were gathered in parallel.

Results: A total of 676 healthcare providers and 6027 women completed the online surveys in 11 countries. There was a high prevalence of contraceptive use and general satisfaction with current method across the countries. Fifty-five percent of women were using short-acting contraception (SAC) methods; 19% were using a long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) method. Sixty percent of women were interested in receiving more information about all methods; 73% of women said they would consider LARC if they received more comprehensive information. Healthcare providers tend to underestimate women’s interest in receiving information on contraception in general and, more specifically, LARC methods.

Conclusions: Despite high levels of use and satisfaction with current methods, women were interested in receiving more information about all contraceptive methods. Greater exploration of women’s views on their needs and expectations of contraception could lead to increased knowledge, more effective discussions with healthcare providers and the greater likelihood of informed contraceptive choice.

摘要

引言：有效应用避孕措施要求妇女在知情的情况下选择符合其个人需要和期望的方法。《欧洲人对避孕需求的思考》（TANCO）研究是一项定量的在线调查, 调查对象是医疗服务提供者和女性对避孕咨询和避孕使用方面的看法。

方法：卫生保健服务提供者和参加避孕咨询实践的妇女被邀请填写在线问卷。妇女调查涉及避孕方法的相关知识和使用, 对现行方法的满意度, 以及对获得更多关于所有方法的信息兴趣。医疗服务提供者的相应问题看法是同时收集的。

结果：共有676名医疗服务提供者和6027名女性在11个国家完成了在线调查。避孕药具的使用率很高, 各国对现行避孕方法普遍感到满意。55%的女性使用的是短效避孕法（SAC）；19%使用长效可逆避孕（LARC）方法；60%的女性有兴趣获得更多关于所有方法的信息；73%的女性表示, 如果得到更全面的信息, 她们会考虑LARC。卫生保健提供者往往低估了妇女对常用避孕方法信息的兴趣, 更具体地说, 是LARC方法。

结论：尽管对目前的避孕方法的应用和满意程度很高, 但妇女有兴趣获得关于所有避孕方法的更多资料。更多地了解妇女对避孕的需求和期望的看法, 可以增加知识, 更有效地与卫生保健提供者进行讨论, 进而做出知情避孕选择的可能性也更大。

Keywords:

• Contraception
• informed decision-making
• counselling

Acknowledgements

This publication and its content are solely the responsibility of the authors. Medical writing assistance was provided by Lynn Hamilton of Clark Health Communications under the direction of the authors and paid for by Bayer AG.

Disclosure statement

Johannes Bitzer has worked as an Advisor for and received honoraria from Bayer AG, Merck, Teva, Exeltis, Lilly, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Vifor and Gedeon Richter. He has also given invited lectures and received honoraria from Bayer AG, Merck, Johnson and Johnson, Teva, Mylan, Allergan, Abbott, Lilly, Pfizer and Gedeon Richter.

Cecilia Caetano and Tobias Christian Porz are employees of Bayer.

Gabriele S. Merki-Feld has served as an adviser, given invited lectures or received research grants from Bayer AG, Merck/MSD, Teva, Gedeon Richter and Exeltis.

Additional information

Funding

The European TANCO study was funded by Bayer AG.