Syllabus

HE050.F3S

Contraceptive Methods for

Family Planning

Staff Course

Arcadia University
Health and Sciences

Iris Stendig-Raskin
E-mail: StendigI@arcadia.edu
Phone: 215-370-7731

No calls after 9 PM

Welcome!

Welcome to your Arcadia University course, HE050S.OL – Contraceptive Methods .

The general focus of the course is to provide you with an overview of current
contraceptive methods, effectiveness, mechanism of action, use and strategies for
patient counseling and education.

Required Materials

No required textbook for this course. Web resources are noted as appropriate.

Evaluation

This is a non-credit course.

Course Description

Contraceptive Methods in Family

This four-week course is designed for counselors, health educators, social workers,
nurses (RNs and LPNs), clinic assistants and other staff working in Title X settings who
assist clients with contraceptive decision-making. The latest information about
contraceptive methods including natural family planning, barrier methods, hormonal
methods, and long-acting reversible methods will be provided and related counseling
messages discussed. Strategies for counseling clients about family planning and
contraceptive methods will be explored through case scenarios and real-world work
experience. Contraceptive counseling and communication skill-building opportunities
will be facilitated. Participants will be encouraged to present their own challenging client
scenarios for expert and peer review.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Discuss contraceptive methods currently available in the United States

• Apply evidence-based decision-skills when talking with patients

• Discuss issues affecting contraceptive decision-making

• Utilize the BRAIDED model in a contraceptive counseling session.

Introduction
Hi and welcome to the online contraceptive course. For many of you this might be your
first online course-have fun with it and don’t feel intimated. I taught in an on-line nurse
practitioner program for many years-and it really is fun.

You’ll be asked to review the individual units and respond to several of the questions
posed in the discussion forum; also please share any interesting cases that you have
seen in your practice.

While Contraceptive Technology is used as a reference text, please note all the URL’s
that are noted throughout the units. They will also provide a clear perspective of the
contraceptive method discussed.
Requirements for Discussion Board Sessions

You are required to respond to a minimum of two other student postings for forums that
require interaction with your peers. I will be looking at the way you analyze the postings
and extend the conversation. At this level we can all learn a great deal by sharing our
experiences.

Discussion Etiquette

In this course, I welcome the creation of a dialogue that is open, thoughtful, and
founded on the basis of research in the field. At times, some of you will not agree on the
positions that are taken in the forum. This diversity is welcomed. However, each student
must exercise respect for the thoughts and comments that are posted by their peers. If
any posted comments are inappropriate or of an offensive nature, they will be removed
from the forum and I will address the issue with the author of the content. Please follow
the following guidelines:

• Never post, transmit, promote, or distribute content that is known to be illegal.

• Never post harassing, threatening, or embarrassing comments.

• If you disagree with someone, respond to the subject, not the person.

• Never post content that is harmful, abusive, racially, ethnically, or religiously

offensive, vulgar or otherwise potentially offensive.

Unit Schedule

Unit 1 Objectives

In this unit, the student will...

• Develop counseling and education techniques

• Apply the BRAIDED model to counseling sessions
• Discuss real and perceived barriers to contraceptive care

Unit 1 Readings

Referenced Texts and internet websites include:

Hatcher, et al. Contraceptive Technology 19th revised ed. Ardent Media. 2007
www.ARHP.org
www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/unintendedpregnancy/contraception.htm
Unit 1 Assignments

1. Discuss what factors should be discussed when talking with a patient about her
contraceptive choices?

2. How do you talk about partner involvement and responsibility?

3. Discuss how health systems barriers may or may not affect a patient’s choice
regarding contraceptives choices.
4. What is the difference between perfect and typical use? How would you discuss
this is a counseling session.

In addition to responding to the above questions, you are also being asked to
interview a male and female friend or relative regarding contraceptive methods.
How did they first gain knowledge about the various methods; ie: friends,
media….Was the information obtained correct? Who did they feel they could go
to talk about their concerns-and how do they obtain their information now?

Unit 2 Objectives

• Become familiar with long acting reversible contraception ( LARC) as well as

permanent contraceptive methods.
• Discuss the various IUC that is available in the US and appropriate candidates
for use.
• Review Implanon information and be able to respond appropriately to patients
inquiries.

Unit 2 Readings

Further information on Implanon or the IUC. Please go to:

www.paragard.com
www.MIRENA-US.com
www.implanon-usa.com

Unit 2 Assignments

You are providing contraceptive counseling to a 16 year old who requests an IUD. How
would you counsel her.
You patient has heard about Implanon but has many questions regarding ‘the
bleeding’.What information can you provide to her.

Your patient is interested in ESSURE. What resources in your community offer this and
what is the cost-will insurance cover?

Unit 3 Objectives

At the completion of this unit, participants will...

• Have gained an understanding of the various combination and progestin
methods of contraception
• Discuss common side effects and management strategies
• Discuss extended use contraception

Unit 3 Readings

Further information about EVRA and the Nuvaring, can be obtained at:
http://www.orthoevra.com/index.html
http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/index.asp

Unit 3 Assignments

1. Discuss counseling strategies that might aid your patient regarding timely oc taking.

2. You receive a call from one of the patients. “I forgot to take my pills and I missed
them for 2 days. I had sex last night and the condom broke.” What can I do?

3.Karen presents requesting information on EVRA. She weighs 225 pounds. What
information will you provide to her.

4. Discuss counseling strategies for someone interested in using Nuvaring.

5. How might you discuss partner involvement regarding contraceptive use.

Unit 4 Objectives
At the end of this unit, the student will...
• Be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages to Barrier methods and
spermicides
• Discuss the components of Natural Family Planning and how it can aid in
pregnancy planning and prevention
• Discuss how Barrier methods can aid in STI prevention

Unit 4 Readings

None.

Please refer to the noted websites within the unit.

Unit 4 Assignments

1. Your patient is interested in using the diaphragm as her contraceptive method. What
key points would you review with her?

2. A couple presents for contraceptive counseling desiring a pregnancy. How would you
counsel them regarding FAM use

3.Your patient mentions that the condom broke while she was using Monistat. What
information can you provide to her regarding safe lubricants.

4. Your patient prefers to use over the counter contraceptives but is concerned with
efficacy. How might you counsel her.

You are also being asked to respond to the following questions:

In your experience, what role or voice do male partners have in influencing

contraceptive choices? and how can we, as health providers, further involve male
partners in contraceptive care?