Provider Perceptions of Over-the-Counter Progestin-Only Birth Control Pills in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Populations of Pennsylvania

TL;DR

This study explores healthcare providers' awareness and opinions of the first over-the-counter progestin-only birth control pill, Opill, in Pennsylvania's urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into provider awareness and training gaps regarding the newly available over-the-counter contraceptive Opill in diverse Pennsylvania regions.

Findings

Only 8% of surveyed providers completed the survey, with 85% reporting no institutional information about over-the-counter birth control pills.

61% of providers received no formal training on counseling patients for over-the-counter birth control.

Unawareness of Opill was highest among rural providers (75%) compared to suburban (34.5%) and urban (27.3%) providers.

Abstract

Background

The Opill is an over-the-counter, progestin-only oral contraceptive and the first of its kind to free women from the need to obtain a prescription for birth control. Opill is approved in Pennsylvania, a remarkably diverse state containing urban, rural, and suburban regions spanning the state. As women gain easier access to birth control that does not require a medical provider's prescription, the Opill may help overcome healthcare gaps when seeking birth control methods. It is crucial to understand provider opinion on progestin-only pills (POPs), which influence patient education and use of the progestin-only pills to prevent unintended pregnancies. In this study, we aim to survey providers who prescribe birth control in Pennsylvania's rural, urban, and suburban regions to gain insight into their opinions of the Opill.

Methodology

The surveys were emailed to healthcare providers in OBGYN, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics using Drexel University College of Medicine’s affiliated clinical sites throughout Pennsylvania. The provider’s demographics, knowledge, and attitudes toward Opill were collected.

Results

The survey was sent to 764 providers, and 60 (8%) completed it. Fifty-one (85%) participants did not receive any information from their institution regarding over-the-counter birth control pills, and 36 (61%) received no formal training on patient counseling for over-the-counter birth control. Unawareness of the availability of Opill among rural, suburban, and urban providers was 3 (75.0%), 11 (34.5%), and 6 (27.3%), respectively.

Conclusions

There is a notable lack of awareness and clinical training of the Opill within Pennsylvania's urban, suburban, and rural providers. Because of the lack of training, providers may be less likely to support and recommend Opill to patients as opposed to other oral contraceptives. As Opill continues to gain traction in the market, further studies are needed to determine whether provider training, perceptions, and recommendations regarding Opill will change over time.