Biomedical subjects

Jennifer Kerns

Publications and source records attributed to Jennifer Kerns.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Bleeding patterns after immediate vs. conventional oral contraceptive initiation: a randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare bleeding patterns after immediate vs. conventional oral contraceptive (OC) initiation. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: University-based clinic. PATIENT(S): One hundred thirteen women initiating combination OCs. INTERVENTION(S): Participants received a 4-month supply of a monophasic 35-microg ethinyl E(2) (EE) OC and a bleeding diary, were randomized to immediate or conventional OC start, underwent monthly telephone follow-up, and after 90 days returned the diary and completed an exit interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Total number of bleeding-spotting days, using the World Health Organization 90-day reference period method. Comparisons were made by trial assignment (immediate vs. conventional) and cycle day of OC initiation (day 8+ vs. days 1-7). RESULT(S): There was no significant difference in the number of bleeding-spotting days (mean difference: -0.5 days; 95% CI: -3.4 to 2.3) or any other bleeding parameter between the immediate and conventional starters, or days 1-7 and day 8+ starters. CONCLUSION(S): Immediate start of OCs does not induce bleeding patterns different from conventional starting regimens. Concern about adverse bleeding patterns should not be considered a justification for instructing women to wait until menses before starting OCs.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Quick start: novel oral contraceptive initiation method.

Conventional oral contraceptive (OC) starting instructions require waiting until menses to begin the OC. The conventional approach requires detailed patient education about when to begin and also may require the use of less effective or less acceptable interim contraceptive protection until menses. At our urban family planning clinic, we routinely offer patients starting the OC the option of taking the first tablet sooner. We prospectively evaluated predictors of short-term OC continuation among 250 OC requestors who were offered several approaches to OC initiation. Telephone follow-up of 91% of participants showed that women who swallowed the first OC in the clinic were more likely to continue the OC until the second package than women who planned to start the OC later (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% C.I. 1.1-7.3). Other factors associated with short-term continuation were: partner's knowledge of planned OC use, older age, and participant's agreement that she would be very unhappy about becoming pregnant in the next 6 months.

Abortion, Induced↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Patient safety: a case study in team building and interdisciplinary collaboration.

This case report presents specific steps taken to address potential patient safety problems, particularly those regarding collaboration between nurses and house staff at The George Washington University Hospital. Issues affecting patient care (e.g., lack of communication and teamwork) were identified through interviews, focus groups, and observations. The actions taken were team-building meetings that included a sensitivity session; coaching with nursing managers; and ground rules for nurse and physician collaboration. This report also describes the agenda for the team-building meetings, results, and lessons learned for implementation at other sites.

Communication↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Partner influence on early discontinuation of the pill in a predominantly Hispanic population.

CONTEXT: Although studies have examined U.S. pill users' patterns of discontinuation, little is known about pill discontinuation, and the effects of partner influence, among Hispanics. METHODS: Follow-up data on pill use were collected from 213 predominantly Hispanic women who requested the pill in an urban family planning clinic in 2000. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between a range of factors, including partner and relationship variables, and the odds of discontinuation within one month. RESULTS: The overall discontinuation rate within one month was 23%. Women who reported that their partner was unaware of their planned pill use had significantly elevated odds of discontinuing use (odds ratio, 3.4). Other variables that were independently associated with increased odds of early pill discontinuation were not taking the first pill during the clinic visit (3.0), feeling happy about the prospect of a pregnancy in the next six months (2.4) and intending to use the pill for one year or less (2.3). Age, which was assessed as a continuous variable, was negatively associated with the odds of early discontinuation (0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Male partners' awareness of planned pill use may be a marker for the level of communication and commitment in the relationship. Women may choose to disclose their planned pill use to supportive partners, and this may be beneficial to the relationship and the couple's contraceptive use. However, clinicians should take women's circumstances and needs into account before counseling them to tell a partner that they intend to use the pill.

Adolescent↗