Lauren S Chernick1, John Santelli2, Melissa S Stockwell2, Ariana Gonzalez1, Anke Ehrhardt3, John L P Thompson4,5, Cheng-Shiun Leu5, Susanne Bakken6, Carolyn L Westhoff7, Peter S Dayan1. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. 2. Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. 3. Department of Psychology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. 4. Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. 5. Department of Biostatistics, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA. 6. Department of Nursing and Bioinformatics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. 7. Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology and Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adolescent females presenting to emergency departments (EDs) inconsistently use contraceptives. We aimed to assess implementation outcomes and potential efficacy of a user-informed, theory-based digital health intervention developed to improve sexual and reproductive health for adolescent females in the ED. METHODS: We conducted a pilot-randomized controlled trial of sexually active female ED patients age 14-19 years. Participants were randomized to the intervention Dr. Erica (Emergency Room Interventions to improve the Care of Adolescents) or usual care. Dr. Erica consists of an ED-based digital intervention along with 3 months of personalized and interactive multimedia messaging. We assessed the feasibility, adoption, and fidelity of Dr. Erica among adolescent female users. Initiation of highly effective contraception was the primary efficacy outcome. RESULTS: We enrolled 146 patients; mean (±SD) age was 17.7 (±1.27) years and 87% were Hispanic. Dr. Erica demonstrated feasibility, with high rates of consent (84.4%) and follow-up (82.9%). Intervention participants found Dr. Erica acceptable, liking (98.0%, on Likert scale) and recommending (83.7%) the program. A total of 87.5% adopted the program, responding to at least one text; a total of 289 weblinks were clicked. Dr. Erica demonstrated fidelity; few participants opted out (6.9%) and failed to receive texts (1.4%). Contraception was initiated by 24.6% (14/57) in the intervention and 21.9% (14/64) in the control arms (absolute risk difference [ARD] = 2.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -12.4% to 17.8%). Participants receiving Dr. Erica were more likely to choose a method to start in the future (65.9% [27/41]) than controls (30.0% [15/50]); ARD = 35.9%, 95% CI = 16.6% to 55.1%). CONCLUSIONS: A personalized, interactive digital intervention was feasible to implement, acceptable to female ED patients and demonstrated high fidelity and adoption. This ED-based intervention shows potential to improve contraception decision making.
BACKGROUND: Adolescent females presenting to emergency departments (EDs) inconsistently use contraceptives. We aimed to assess implementation outcomes and potential efficacy of a user-informed, theory-based digital health intervention developed to improve sexual and reproductive health for adolescent females in the ED. METHODS: We conducted a pilot-randomized controlled trial of sexually active female ED patients age 14-19 years. Participants were randomized to the intervention Dr. Erica (Emergency Room Interventions to improve the Care of Adolescents) or usual care. Dr. Erica consists of an ED-based digital intervention along with 3 months of personalized and interactive multimedia messaging. We assessed the feasibility, adoption, and fidelity of Dr. Erica among adolescent female users. Initiation of highly effective contraception was the primary efficacy outcome. RESULTS: We enrolled 146 patients; mean (±SD) age was 17.7 (±1.27) years and 87% were Hispanic. Dr. Erica demonstrated feasibility, with high rates of consent (84.4%) and follow-up (82.9%). Intervention participants found Dr. Erica acceptable, liking (98.0%, on Likert scale) and recommending (83.7%) the program. A total of 87.5% adopted the program, responding to at least one text; a total of 289 weblinks were clicked. Dr. Erica demonstrated fidelity; few participants opted out (6.9%) and failed to receive texts (1.4%). Contraception was initiated by 24.6% (14/57) in the intervention and 21.9% (14/64) in the control arms (absolute risk difference [ARD] = 2.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -12.4% to 17.8%). Participants receiving Dr. Erica were more likely to choose a method to start in the future (65.9% [27/41]) than controls (30.0% [15/50]); ARD = 35.9%, 95% CI = 16.6% to 55.1%). CONCLUSIONS: A personalized, interactive digital intervention was feasible to implement, acceptable to female ED patients and demonstrated high fidelity and adoption. This ED-based intervention shows potential to improve contraception decision making.
Keywords:
adolescent behavior; contraception behavior; digital health; emergency medicine; family planning counseling; health planning; mobile health; pregnancy in adolescence; pregnancy prevention; sexual behavior; sexual health; teenage pregnancy; text messaging
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