PSP Women’s Health Jordan Initiates EBM Approach to Change Provider Attitudes

The Abt Associates-led PSP Jordan project has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bayer Schering Pharma and PSP-One to work together to change attitudes about combined oral contraceptives (COCs) among 300 private doctors in Jordan over the next year.

Evidence based medicine is the integration of the best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. Using the best available research to date, the International Center for Evidence-Based Medicine developed Critically Appraised Topics or 2 page “CATs”, on 21 different issues of concern to Jordanian physicians and clients about COCs, e.g., infertility, weight gain, and breast cancer. Two consultants then trained speakers identified by Bayer Schering and PSP Jordan to understand the CATs and to conduct small interactive roundtable discussions with local physicians. They also trained medical representatives in using the CATs with doctors in detailing.

Over the next 10 months, Bayer Schering will conduct roundtables for 150 key specialists, while PSP Jordan will address 150 female general practitioners. Both groups will use the CATs for medical detailing to these and other physicians. These efforts will be synergized with messages through outreach and mass media.

Jordan has a contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of 57%, but a modern method CPR of only 42% - mostly intrauterine devices. The discontinuation rate for COCs (47% in first year) remains high and health concerns about hormonal methods have been identified as a key factor. PSP Jordan plans to partner with other pharmaceutical firms to address other methods such as progestin-only pills.