Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40032391›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Awareness of risk when prescribing and taking combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs): a qualitative study with women and health professionals in three European countries.

Paula Cristina Gomes Alves, Irene Petersen, Iveta Nagyova, Zuzana Katreniaková, Vera Ehrenstein, Fiona A Stevenson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Paula Cristina Gomes AlvesInstitute for Lifecourse Development, Centre for Mental Health, University of Greenwich, London, UK p.c.gomesalves@gre.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1406-5724
Irene PetersenResearch Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
Iveta NagyovaDepartment of Social and Behavioural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia.
Zuzana KatreniakováDepartment of Social and Behavioural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia.
Vera EhrensteinDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University & Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Fiona A StevensonResearch Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2139-2309

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo explore the experiences of women and health professionals when communicating about combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs), with a focus on venous thromboembolism (VTE). We also focused on information sources consulted by women for their decision-making process regarding contraceptives.

designQualitative semistructured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 24 women and 16 health professionals. The study followed a phenomenological approach, and data were synthesised using the framework analysis method.

settingCommunity health centres across three countries in the UK, Denmark, and Slovakia.

participantsAdult (aged 18+) women using CHC and health professionals eligible to prescribe CHC in their respective countries.

resultsWomen tended to be positive about CHC's safety and seek information about CHC through their health professionals, family and friends. They would like to receive further information from health professionals, particularly when it comes to risks of CHC and alternative methods of contraception. Health professionals reported using a variety of methods to communicate about CHC and generally report giving advice based on national and local guidelines. In line with women's perspectives, they reported time constraints and lack of resources as barriers to communication about CHC. Health professionals in our sample believed there is a lack of standardisation in the information offered and guidelines used to prescribe CHC, with little contact with international regulators such as the European Medicines Agency.

conclusionsIt is necessary to improve the conditions under which contraceptive counselling is provided, as well as supporting health professionals in this task. Exploring the lived experiences of women and health professionals about how they discuss contraception choices can shed light on the best approaches to improve reproductive health consultations.

Indexed as

Contraceptives, Oral, CombinedHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth PersonnelVenous ThromboembolismAdolescentAdultDecision MakingDenmarkFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchUnited KingdomYoung AdultContraceptives, Oral, CombinedClinical Decision-MakingHealth LiteracyPrimary HealthcareQUALITATIVE RESEARCHReproductive medicineSEXUAL MEDICINE

Identifiers

PMID40032391
PMCPMC11877230

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.