FAMILY PHYSICIANS PRACTICES REGARDING NORPLANT

Background. Norplant is a method of long-term contraception that was introduced in the United States in January 1991. This study was designed to explore the extent to which family physicians currently offer and insert Norplant. Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was used to elicit information from a random sample of family physicians belonging to the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians. Results. Of the 242 (69% response rate) physicians responding to the questionnaire, 130 (54%) were offering Norplant to their patients and 60 (25%) were inserting the devices themselves. Physicians offering Norplant were more likely to be women, younger, board certified, and currently practicing obstetrics. The most common reasons cited by the 112 (46%) physicians who did not offer Norplant were concerns about side effects, lack of familiarity with the procedure, expense, and personal or religious reasons. Overall, 88% of physicians who offered Norplant to their patients were satisfied with the product's performance. Conclusions. Over one half of the physician participants were offering Norplant as a contraceptive option for their patients. Physicians who offered the system were satisfied with its performance, and many expressed the belief that this form of contraception might be particularly well suited to certain patient groups.