Coil or intrauterine device? Patient preferences for contraceptive terminology.
OBJECTIVE
To discover what terminology women prefer to use when referring to contraceptive methods and to investigate the understanding of and ideas associated with contraceptive names.


METHODS
A self-administered questionnaire was answered by 191 new patients at family planning clinics (FPCs). Women were asked if they understood the terms used by the fpa (Family Planning Association), if they knew of any alternatives and, if so, which they preferred.


METHODS
Selected FPCs across the city of Manchester.


RESULTS
Patients preferred to use familiar terms, e.g. pill, mini-pill, coil and morning-after pill. There was no difference in preference when the results were compared by age or educational level. A greater proportion of non-Caucasians than Caucasians preferred the precise (fpa) terms. Although precise terms were not widely known or understood, when used they were associated with more information than were the familiar terms.


CONCLUSIONS
All FPC staff should evaluate the language used by individual patients and, where appropriate, introduce precise terminology to help patients to make informed, appropriate choices.
Family Planning, University of Manchester, The Palatine Center, 63065 Palatine Road, Manchester M20 3LJ, UK. nicola@nmullin.freeserve.co.uk
Nicola
N
Mullin
Kathryn
K
Mills
Rosemary
R
Kirkman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000145:classification*; D003274:Contraceptive Devices, Female / Q000145:classification*; D004739:England; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009626:Terminology as Topic
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female