Single-Visit Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Insertion Practices Before and After Implementation of Practice Changes Including Telehealth Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in North Carolina.

BACKGROUND

We sought to characterize changes in single-visit long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) placement before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina.

METHODS

We utilized an interrupted time series analysis to characterize single-visit LARC placement after the start of the pandemic across a state-wide health care system.

RESULTS

Within our cohort of 4591 patients receiving a LARC, 70.36% received single-visit LARC before and 66.98% after the start of the pandemic (odds ratio [OR] = 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 - 0.97). There was a slight monthly decrease in the likelihood of single-visit LARC after the pandemic started (0.001, 95% CI: -0.004 - 0.005).

LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the electronic health record data-based abstraction of variables, as well as the inability to assess patient preferences in visit scheduling.

CONCLUSIONS

Rapid increases in telehealth were associated with slight decreases in single-visit LARC placement. Further study is needed to better understand patient goals and experiences, as well as clinical and public health impacts surrounding the use of telehealth for contraceptive care.