Long-acting reversible contraception: what do people want to know?
Project Details
Although there are many contraceptive options available in Australia, most women* use the pill and condoms. There has been a concerted effort over the past decade to encourage women to utilise the most effective methods available, including contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices (also called long-acting reversible contraception, or LARC), but success has been limited. Much research-to-date has focused on improving access in the healthcare context. The LARC Project is a broad body of work with the key aim of improving the experiences of those who use, or may wish to use these contraceptive methods.
The LARC Project comprises the following studies:
- A review of information available online about LARC.
- A survey examining the current knowledge about and information needs regarding LARC of women aged 18-45 years currently living in Australia.
- Interviews with women aged 18-45 years, who are currently using, or who have previously used LARC.
- A qualitative survey examining the experiences of women aged 18-45 years during insertion of an intrauterine device, including their information needs prior to, during and after the procedure.
- Interviews with healthcare providers to understand pain management strategies used during intrauterine device insertions.
*This project uses the term women to refer to those with female reproductive organs. However, we note that not all people with female reproductive organs will identify as women and use this term in an inclusive and broad way to refer to all people with female reproductive organs who may require contraception.
Ethics
The individual studies that form this project have been approved by the University of Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee.
Researchers
This project is being undertaken by researchers in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, including:
Dr Jacqueline Coombe (lead researcher)
Cassandra Caddy (PhD candidate and RA)
The research team can be contacted at: larc-project@unimelb.edu.au
Students
Hannah Wood (MPH Research Student)
Claire Felix-Faure (MPH Research Student, completed 2023)
Funding
Parts of this project were funded by a University of Melbourne Early Career Researcher Grant (ID 2022ECR097) awarded to Dr Jacqueline Coombe.
Research Outcomes
Study Summaries
Online survey: Information needs and knowledge about LARC
Research Publications
Caddy C, Coombe J. Googling long-acting reversible contraception: A scoping review examining the information available online about intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants. Health Promot J Austral. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.806