title: Durable effects of implementation intentions: reduced rates of confirmed pregnancy at 2 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the long-term impact of implementation intention formation in reducing consultations for emergency contraception and pregnancy testing among teenage women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teenage women visiting a family planning clinic were randomly assigned to implementation intention versus control conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Objective measures of consultation outcomes were obtained from clinic records at 2-year follow-up (N = 227).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rates of consultation for emergency contraception and pregnancy testing in the implementation intentions condition were 19% and 33% lower, respectively, compared to the rates observed in the control condition. Pregnancy rates were 43% lower. Intervention participants who consulted for emergency contraception and pregnancy testing at baseline were more than twice as likely to change to consulting for contraceptive supplies over the follow-up period compared to equivalent control participants (19% vs. 9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impact of implementation intention formation on reducing pregnancy risk among teenagers is durable over 2 years. Implementation intentions were successful in changing behavior among precisely those participants who were at greatest risk of becoming pregnant.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Jack Straws Lane, Marston, Oxford OX3 0FL, UK. jmartin@brookes.ac.uk
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; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires