Randomized Controlled Trial of Adjunctive Social Media for More Effective Contraceptive Counseling

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to determine whether social media, specifically a Facebook page, is an effective tool for improving contraceptive knowledge. METHODS: English-speaking women 18–45 years old receiving care in an urban academic center obstetrics–gynecology clinic were invited to participate in a randomized trial of standard contraceptive education+pamphlet compared with standard contraceptive education+Facebook information for contraception counseling. Contraceptive knowledge was evaluated pre- and postintervention by the Contraceptive Knowledge Inventory. We evaluated the effect of the intervention by raw score or percent increase in Contraceptive Knowledge Inventory score, patient satisfaction with counseling method, and contraceptive preference postintervention. All analyses were stratified by age group. RESULTS: Median raw Contraceptive Knowledge Inventory score postintervention was significantly higher in the Facebook (n=69) compared with the pamphlet group (n=74) across all age groups (all P≤.02) as was percent increase in Contraceptive Knowledge Inventory score (all P<.05). Patient satisfaction with counseling method was significantly higher in the Facebook group across all ages (all P≤.01). Patient contraceptive preference for long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC; intrauterine device or implant) postintervention was significantly greater in the Facebook compared with the pamphlet group (57% compared with 35%, P=.01). Among women currently using no or barrier contraception, patient preference for implant postintervention was significantly greater in the Facebook compared with the pamphlet group (26% compared with 5%, P=.02), although when analysis was extended to include an implant or intrauterine device, LARC was nonsignificantly higher in the Facebook compared with pamphlet group (48% compared with 33%, P=.19). CONCLUSION: Social media as an adjunct to traditional in-office counseling is a powerful tool that improves patient contraceptive knowledge and increases patient preference for LARC.