Excellence in Professional Education Programmes

Summary of work

Unplanned pregnancy represents a major public health crisis across the world. Younger and nulliparous women (those that have not yet had a child) are at higher risk of unplanned pregnancy. Intrauterine contraception (IUC) represents an effective option for this group of women but is seldom recommended by healthcare professionals (HCPs) because of a number of myths dating back to the 1970s. Bayer, a major provider of contraception including a portfolio of intrauterine options, created a unique, long-term, global collaboration to create information and support individual advocates to challenge these barriers and myths and support greater inclusion of IUC in contraceptive counselling. A global group of experts identified the educational needs through a global survey of over 1700 HCPs. Key data to challenge the myths and address the educational needs was published in several peer-reviewed publications and posters. This information was then cascaded to over 100 national experts and advocates from 38 countries by education and training events developed and delivered by members of the INTRA group. So far the programme has reached over 2500 contraception experts around the world and the national advocates now have a strong platform of evidence and information to continue this education into 2014.

Judges comments

This is a very strong educational programme that demonstrates a natural, subtle, stepwise approach to change behaviour. The rigour and academic research that powered the programme was outstanding and it will be interesting to see what comes of this in the future.