The researchers studied how our use of EC changed, which methods were offered, how this changed, which was chosen by women who were offered all three UK licensed EC methods and the only LNG offer.
The researchers studied a total of 2989 case records in the three months before and three months following the adoption by our service of the 2011 FSRH guidance. Additionally, three non-probabilistic, purposeful samples of representative practitioners’ charts were examined in groups of women who offered all methods which provided LNG only.
LNG’s use fell from 93.0% of EC issued to 76.0%; UPA use rose from 3.0% to 18.7%. In the second 3-month period, of the women offered all three methods, 54.9% chose LNG and 39.8% UPA. LNG-only offers in our judgment were clinically appropriate in 62.5% of cases of such offers.
The study concluded that compared to the second period, more women were offered all three methods, LNG fell, and that of UPA increased. Women were encouraged to exercise choice. However, increasing choice in our service did not lead to a wholesale change from LNG to UPA.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/39/4/264
