Objective
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many clinicians increased provision of telemedicine services. This study describes patient experiences with telemedicine for contraceptive counseling during the Covid-19 pandemic in New York City.
Study design
This is a mixed-methods study which includes a web-based or phone survey and in-depth phone interviews with patients who had telemedicine visits for contraception.
Results
A total of 169 patients had eligible telemedicine visits between April 1 and June 30, 2020. Of these, 86 (51%) responded to the survey, and 23 (14%) participated in the interviews. We found that 86% of survey respondents were very satisfied with the telemedicine visit, and 63% said it completely met their needs. A majority (73%) strongly agreed that these visits should be maintained after the Covid-19 pandemic, and half (51%) would be very likely to choose them over in-person visits. In-depth interviews highlighted the convenience of telemedicine, especially for those with work or parenting responsibilities. Although some patients had in-person visits after telehealth, many appreciated the counseling they received remotely, and found the subsequent in-person visits more efficient. Patients identified visits that do not require physical exams as ideal visits for telehealth, and some hoped that all or most of their future visits would be telehealth visits. Many patients (43%) expressed a preference for phone over video visits.
Conclusions
Patients reported an overall positive experience with telemedicine visits for contraceptive counseling during the Covid-19 pandemic. They appreciated the convenience of telemedicine visits and valued the virtual counseling experience.
OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Louisiana state law does not require sex-education (SE) in public schools. Locally and nationally, religious identity and beliefs are often invoked to oppose access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and education. This study aimed to explore support for SE among Louisiana parents, focusing on how religiosity may influence parent support for SE. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Participants included 1,197 Louisiana parents and caregivers of children in grades K-12 who completed a web-based survey. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between covariates and support for SE. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of parents reported that their overall approach to life is based on their religion or faith. Of those parents, 77% agreed that schools should be required to offer SE. In multivariate analysis, parents who reported that their whole approach to life is based on their religion on faith were 26% less likely to support required SE compared to parents whose whole approach to life was not based on their religion; however, this difference was not statistically significant (adjusted OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.44-1.24). Although support for required SE declined as religiosity increased, a strong majority of parents support requiring SE in Louisiana schools, regardless of religiosity. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Contrary to opposition claims, strong support for SE exists among Louisiana parents and caregivers of faith. Parents and leaders of faith may be engaged as partners in advocacy for SE as well as other sexual and reproductive health issues.
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