title: Satisfaction and compliance in hormonal contraception: the result of a multicentre clinical study on women's experience with the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin contraceptive patch in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For many women finding the right contraceptive method can be challenging and consistent and correct use over a lifetime is difficult. Even remembering to take a birth control pill every day can be a challenge. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate women's experience with a weekly ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin contraceptive patch (EE/NGMN patch), given new technologies recently developed in hormonal contraception to increase women's options in avoiding daily dosing.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 24 Italian sites, 207 women received the EE/NGMN patch for up to 6 cycles. At study end, overall satisfaction and preference, as well as compliance, efficacy and safety, were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  175 women (84.5%) completed the study. The overall satisfaction rate was 88%; convenience and once-a-week frequency of the patch were especially appreciated. At baseline, 82 women (39.4%) were using a contraceptive method, mainly oral contraceptives and barrier methods, but only 45.1% were very satisfied/satisfied; after 6 months with the patch, 86.3% of this subset was very satisfied/satisfied. Considering the method used in the 3 months before the study entry, 78.1% strongly preferred/preferred the patch, for convenience (53.9%), ease of use/simplicity (28.9%), fewer (9.2%) and less severe (2.6%) side effects. Compliance was very high: 1034/1110 cycles (93.2%) were completed with perfect compliance and the mean subject's compliance score was 90%. One on-therapy pregnancy occurred. The patch was safe and well tolerated: adverse events frequency was low, with predominantly single reports of each event. Most of them started and subsided during cycle 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that the EE/NGMN patch is associated with high satisfaction levels and excellent compliance. At study end, the majority of women indicated that they would continue using the patch.
authors: II Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. piergiorgio.crosignani@unimi.it
authors: Pier Giorgio
authors: PG
authors: Crosignani
authors: Carmine
authors: C
authors: Nappi
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Ronsini
authors: Vincenzina
authors: V
authors: Bruni
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Marelli
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Sonnino
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010091:Oximes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010091:Oximes; D009644:Norgestrel; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination; C449219:norelgestromin