First pill teach
K. Guthrie, L. Westoby
Hull and East Riding Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Partnership, East
Yorkshire, UK
Introduction: There are a number of widespread misconceptions around
the use of the contraceptive pill prompting the need to communicate a series of
messages, and assist in the delivery of the first pill teach.
Aims: To develop an initiative that will address the above issues, by
communicating information in a clear, unambiguous, ‘nonmedical’ way, which
will be meaningful to users, parents and professionals.
Method: The messages broadly break down into two categories:
Information communication at the point of initial prescribing; How and why the
pill works; safe use of the pill; addressing common misconceptions, for example
increase in weight. Information communicated for ongoing use of the pill such
as: What to do if you miss a pill; side effects; the effect of antibiotics; the
difference between the contraceptive pill and Emergency Contraception; awareness
of impact on pill of sickness or diarrhoea; need to protect further against STI’s.
How the Initiative Will Operate: Pill Wallet: a purpose designed
wallet, large enough to contain a strip of pills, and a mirror, which is
designed to appeal to young women. The Wallet will also contain a new leaflet.
Leaflet: a concertina folded leaflet, which fits the wallet. Content is simple
graphics and text to illustrate how the Pill works.
Information CD: ‘Get the Facts’: a supporting CD which will
feature two characters who talk through the Do’s and Don’ts of Pill Taking,
interspersing music, allowing the listener to move backwards and forward through
the CD. The above products will be used as a ‘set’, to be given to young
women under the age of twenty years during first pill teach by the professional.
These products can also be used as ‘stand alone’ products for use in family
planning/teen clinics and by young people’s workers for further clarification.
The initiative is approaching the final stage of development, and will be
launched in April and rolled out to family planning/teen clinics in Hull and the
East Riding.
