title: Implementation intention formation reduces consultations for emergency contraception and pregnancy testing among teenage women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the impact of implementation intention formation in reducing consultations for emergency contraception and pregnancy testing in young women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teenage girls (N = 261) visiting a family planning clinic were randomly assigned to implementation intention versus control conditions and completed questionnaires at recruitment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Objective measures of consultation outcomes were obtained from clinic records at baseline and 9-month follow-up (n = 200).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forming implementation intentions significantly reduced consultations for emergency contraception and pregnancy testing at follow-up compared with the control group (38% vs. 55%). There were also differences between the groups in consultation outcomes over time. For instance, whereas 31% of implementation intention participants changed from consulting for emergency contraception and pregnancy testing at baseline to consulting for contraceptive supplies only at follow-up, only 16% of control participants did so.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that implementation intention formation is a simple yet effective means of promoting pregnancy prevention among teenagers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England. jillymartin100@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jilly
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Paschal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sheeran
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Slade
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dibble
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013222:State Medicine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom