Differences in Postpartum Contraceptive Use in Patients Delivered by Academic Versus Private Hospitalists [09J

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Research has shown that women discharged postpartum without a contraception plan are significantly more likely to have a suboptimal interpregnancy interval. There is a lack of evidence examining the differences in postpartum contraception rates in patients treated by an academic hospitalist versus a private hospitalist. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was completed examining women who delivered at a community hospital under the care of the hospitalist service surrounding a transition from a private to academic hospitalist service. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Records were collected for deliveries during six months in 2018. The primary outcome was postpartum women discharged without a contraceptive plan. Data was compared using a chi-square test. Relative risks with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: 245 patients were delivered by a private physician and 447 patients were delivered by an academic physician. Patients delivered by an academic physician chose not to receive any contraception less often than patients delivered by a private physician (24% vs 32%: relative risk [RR] 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.47-0.95]). Those delivered by an academic physician chose to receive long-acting reversible contraception more often than those delivered by a private physician (11% vs 1%: RR 9.48 [CI 2.92-30.79]). There was no difference in receiving a bilateral tubal ligation (1% vs 2%: RR 0.82 [CI 0.23-2.93]) or user-dependent contraception between the two groups (64% vs 65%: RR 0.96 [CI 0.69-1.33]). CONCLUSION: Postpartum patients receiving care from an academic laborist were more likely to have a contraception plan at discharge and to desire long-acting reversible contraception.