title: Barriers to prescribing the Copper T 380A intrauterine device by physicians.
abstract: From a questionnaire sent to all obstetricians and gynecologists and all family and general practitioners in San Diego County, California, regarding the Copper T 380A intrauterine device, substantial barriers to prescribing it were identified. Of all physicians responding, 40% reported that they were not recommending the Copper T 380A to anyone, the single most common reason given being concern about medical liability. A lack of knowledge about the new device, a lack of intrauterine device insertion skills, and certain medical practice settings were also important barriers to prescribing it. The new intrauterine device is considered in the context of innovation-diffusion theory. Substantial amounts of education and training and improvement in the medical-legal climate are needed before current barriers to prescribing the new device are removed.
authors.affiliation: Planned Parenthood of San Diego, CA.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kooiker
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Scutchfield
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003300:Copper; D004867:Equipment Design; D005194:Family Practice; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D009774:Obstetrics; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010820:Physicians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D055656:Prescriptions
chemical_list: D003300:Copper