Sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent and young adult women with epilepsy: A qualitative study of pediatric neurologists and epileptologists.
Adolescent health
Qualitative interviews
Reproductive health
Sexual health
Women with epilepsy
Journal
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
ISSN: 1525-5069
Titre abrégé: Epilepsy Behav
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 100892858
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
03 2020
03 2020
Historique:
received:
22
11
2019
revised:
10
01
2020
accepted:
10
01
2020
pubmed:
28
1
2020
medline:
15
12
2020
entrez:
28
1
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes and practices of pediatric neurologists and epileptologists regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent and young adult women with epilepsy (WWE). Adolescent and young adult WWE have unique sexual and reproductive healthcare needs, including counseling on teratogenesis, folic acid, and interactions between contraception and antiseizure medications. There are no prior studies regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare practices of pediatric neurologists or epileptologists. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with pediatric neurologists and epileptologists regarding their attitudes, practices, and experiences with sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent and young adult WWE. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative analysis was conducted using a thematic analysis approach. Six child neurologists and 10 epileptologists (44% male) participated. Major themes included the following: (1) Sexual and reproductive healthcare is important for adolescent WWE, and neurologists have a key role in providing this care. (2) Sexual and reproductive healthcare should be comanaged with a primary care provider or women's health provider although neurologists have significant concerns regarding comanagement. (3) There is wide variability in sexual and reproductive healthcare practice among pediatric neurologists and epileptologists. Important subthemes included parent education and differences in sexual and reproductive healthcare practices for women with intellectual disabilities. (4) Many systemic and interpersonal barriers exist to delivering sexual and reproductive healthcare to adolescent and young adult WWE. Important barriers included limited time; provider, patient, or family discomfort; and lack of necessary knowledge or expertise. (5) Providers desire standardization of sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent WWE along with patient and provider education. This is the first study to assess attitudes and practices of pediatric neurologists and epileptologists regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent and young adult WWE. Our findings suggest that there is a need for development of improved systems for sexual and reproductive healthcare delivery and comanagement for adolescent and young adult WWE. Providers identified many barriers and facilitators that might serve as the basis for interventions to improve care.
Sections du résumé
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes and practices of pediatric neurologists and epileptologists regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent and young adult women with epilepsy (WWE).
BACKGROUND
Adolescent and young adult WWE have unique sexual and reproductive healthcare needs, including counseling on teratogenesis, folic acid, and interactions between contraception and antiseizure medications. There are no prior studies regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare practices of pediatric neurologists or epileptologists.
DESIGN/METHODS
Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with pediatric neurologists and epileptologists regarding their attitudes, practices, and experiences with sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent and young adult WWE. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative analysis was conducted using a thematic analysis approach.
RESULTS
Six child neurologists and 10 epileptologists (44% male) participated. Major themes included the following: (1) Sexual and reproductive healthcare is important for adolescent WWE, and neurologists have a key role in providing this care. (2) Sexual and reproductive healthcare should be comanaged with a primary care provider or women's health provider although neurologists have significant concerns regarding comanagement. (3) There is wide variability in sexual and reproductive healthcare practice among pediatric neurologists and epileptologists. Important subthemes included parent education and differences in sexual and reproductive healthcare practices for women with intellectual disabilities. (4) Many systemic and interpersonal barriers exist to delivering sexual and reproductive healthcare to adolescent and young adult WWE. Important barriers included limited time; provider, patient, or family discomfort; and lack of necessary knowledge or expertise. (5) Providers desire standardization of sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent WWE along with patient and provider education.
CONCLUSION
This is the first study to assess attitudes and practices of pediatric neurologists and epileptologists regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent and young adult WWE. Our findings suggest that there is a need for development of improved systems for sexual and reproductive healthcare delivery and comanagement for adolescent and young adult WWE. Providers identified many barriers and facilitators that might serve as the basis for interventions to improve care.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31986439
pii: S1525-5050(19)31279-X
doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106911
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
106911Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.