Implementation intention formation reduces consultations for emergency contraception and pregnancy testing among teenage women.
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.
Martin
Jilly
J
Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England. jillymartin100@yahoo.com
Sheeran
Paschal
P
Slade
Pauline
P
Wright
Alison
A
Dibble
Tracey
T
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