CONTRACEPTION PREFERENCES OF WOMEN AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS: A DISCRETE CHOICE EXPERIMENT
Author(s)
Vanessa Perez Patel, PhD, MS1, Ashley Holub, PhD2, Keith A. Betts, PhD2, Matthew Mattera, MPH2, Kevin J. Collins, MD1, Kara Rood, MD3, Stephanie Teal, MD, MPH4.
1Organon and Co., Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2Analysis Group, Boston, MA, USA, 3The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA, 4University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH, USA.
1Organon and Co., Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2Analysis Group, Boston, MA, USA, 3The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA, 4University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Preferences of women and healthcare providers (HCPs) for contraception, a cornerstone of women’s health, are critical to decision-making when faced with competing options. This discrete choice experiment (DCE) quantified how attributes of contraceptive methods in the United States impact preferences informing choice.
METHODS: DCEs were conducted separately for women and HCPs. Seven attributes were assessed: effectiveness, mode of administration, return to fertility, cardiovascular (CV) risk, immediate postpartum use, breastfeeding, and amenorrhea. Participants completed 12 choice cards per DCE; each choice card displayed hypothetical yet realistic contraceptive methods with varying levels. HCPs completed a DCE for distinct patient profiles: 1) a young, nulliparous woman; 2) an older woman, family planning complete; and 3) a woman with higher body weight. Preference weight coefficients and relative importance (RI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Subgroup analyses were conducted. Guidelines for good research practices were followed.
RESULTS: A total of 612 participants were recruited. Women (n=307) were 29.9 years, on average; 52.4% had higher body weight (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2). HCPs (n=305) practiced for 16.3 years, on average; 65.6% specialized in obstetrics/gynecology. Women most preferred a highly effective method (RI=30.7%) with low CV risk (RI=24.0%), a daily mode of administration (RI=18.1%), and a rapid return to fertility (RI=10.5%). Methods which can be used immediately postpartum were preferred over those requiring a delay. When considering long-acting reversible methods, women had a slight preference for the etonogestrel implant compared to intrauterine devices. HCPs most valued highly effective methods (RI: 37.0-40.1%). HCPs consistently preferred long-acting reversible methods as opposed to oral pills and injections.
CONCLUSIONS: Women and HCPs strongly prefer highly effective contraception. These findings, showing similarities and differences in stated preferences between women and HCPs, are central to informing educational efforts, contraceptive counseling, benefit-risk, and resource allocation.
METHODS: DCEs were conducted separately for women and HCPs. Seven attributes were assessed: effectiveness, mode of administration, return to fertility, cardiovascular (CV) risk, immediate postpartum use, breastfeeding, and amenorrhea. Participants completed 12 choice cards per DCE; each choice card displayed hypothetical yet realistic contraceptive methods with varying levels. HCPs completed a DCE for distinct patient profiles: 1) a young, nulliparous woman; 2) an older woman, family planning complete; and 3) a woman with higher body weight. Preference weight coefficients and relative importance (RI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Subgroup analyses were conducted. Guidelines for good research practices were followed.
RESULTS: A total of 612 participants were recruited. Women (n=307) were 29.9 years, on average; 52.4% had higher body weight (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2). HCPs (n=305) practiced for 16.3 years, on average; 65.6% specialized in obstetrics/gynecology. Women most preferred a highly effective method (RI=30.7%) with low CV risk (RI=24.0%), a daily mode of administration (RI=18.1%), and a rapid return to fertility (RI=10.5%). Methods which can be used immediately postpartum were preferred over those requiring a delay. When considering long-acting reversible methods, women had a slight preference for the etonogestrel implant compared to intrauterine devices. HCPs most valued highly effective methods (RI: 37.0-40.1%). HCPs consistently preferred long-acting reversible methods as opposed to oral pills and injections.
CONCLUSIONS: Women and HCPs strongly prefer highly effective contraception. These findings, showing similarities and differences in stated preferences between women and HCPs, are central to informing educational efforts, contraceptive counseling, benefit-risk, and resource allocation.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH168
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
SDC: Reproductive & Sexual Health, STA: Personalized & Precision Medicine