Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Abstract
Objective: A primary care workforce that is well prepared to provide high-quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care has the
potential to enhance access to care and reduce health disparities. This project aimed to identify core competencies to guide SRH training
across the primary care professions.
Study design: A six-member interprofessional expert working group drafted SRH competencies for primary care team members. Primary
care providers including family physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives, physician assistants and pharmacists
were invited to participate in a three-round electronic Delphi survey. In each round, participants voted by email to retain, eliminate or revise
each competency, with their suggested edits to the competencies incorporated by the researchers after each round.
Results: Fifty providers from six professions participated. In Round 1, 17 of 33 draft competencies reached the 75% predetermined agreement level
to be accepted as written. Five were combined, reducing the total number to 28. Based on Round 2 feedback, 21 competencies were reworded, and 2
were combined. In Round 3, all 26 competencies reached at least 83.7% agreement, with 9 achieving 100% agreement.
Conclusion: The 33 core competencies encompass professional ethics and reproductive justice, collaboration, SRH services and conditions
affecting SRH. These core competencies will be disseminated and adapted to each profession's scope of practice to inform required curricula.
Implications: SRH competencies for primary care can inform the required curricula across professions, filling the gap between an established
standard of care necessary to meet patient needs and the outcomes of that care.
2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Modified Delphi study; Interprofessional; Sexual health; Reproductive health; Core competencies
This article reports the work of the Core Competencies survey in view of their colleagues' comments. Each round
Working Group. The Core Competencies Working Group's builds on the results of the previous round. Most Delphi
tasks are: studies use a 75%80% level of agreement to confirm
concurrence with a proposed concept and allow the content
1. to define the essential SRH competencies that primary to be carried to the subsequent round; we used 75% as the
care professionals should attain during their training cutoff level. The modified Delphi is used extensively in
and health care and social science research [5]. Most recently, a
2. to work collaboratively with the appropriate national Delphi study comprised of expert nurses, nurse educators
professional associations to adopt these competencies. and advanced practitioner nurses identified unintended
pregnancy prevention and care competencies in nursing.
SRH care is sometimes narrowly considered to encom-
[6]. A Delphi study uses two to four rounds with three as the
pass only maternalchild health, family planning or
norm, which corresponds to the model used here [78].
women's health care. In the US context, this care is
The Core Competencies Working Group included seven
sometimes seen as the purview of gynecologists and
experienced educators from the following primary care
specialized family planning clinics. However, to produce
professions: family medicine, nurse-midwifery, nurse practi-
optimal health outcomes, the World Health Organization
tioners, pharmacists and physician assistants. This group
(WHO) states that the definition of primary care should
developed an initial draft of 31 competencies. Global and US
include the reproductive health of men and women
frameworks guided the initial set of SRH competencies. Both of
throughout their lifespan, including adolescence [3]. SRH
the core SRH competency frameworks from the WHO and the
care cannot be relegated solely to specialty care providers
United Kingdom build on health provider competencies for
and needs to be included in the preparation of all health care
primary care and public health service delivery. The WHO
providers, particularly primary care professionals. Currently,
model establishes a global approach to the provision of
many primary care graduates report varying amounts of SRH
competency-based education for all primary health care workers
preparation in their programs [4]. The development of
in SRH based on a minimum package of SRH care that all clients
interprofessional competencies in SRH will guide curricu-
should be able to access, regardless of their social, physical and
lum development and thus assist educational programs to
mental status; sex; age; religion and country of origin. In the UK,
better integrate SRH into primary care training. Interprofes-
a coordinated system of competency-based SRH education,
sional core competencies to guide curricula have already
training and certification has been established for primary care
been developed in many fields, including gerontology and
providers (RNs, NPs, midwives and physicians) working in the
genetics, but do not currently exist for SRH care in the US. A
National Health Services.
core set of competencies is needed to guide the development
Initially, the Working Group reviewed competencies that
of educational content that can be incorporated across the
met some or all of our criteria: (a) an interprofessional team
health professions.
approach, (b) focus on primary care, (c) focus on SRH for
A competent primary care workforce in SRH care will
both men and women, (d) focus on sexual wellness as well as
only be achieved if professionals have comprehensive
disease-specific conditions, (e) articulation of a reproductive
education and training in SRH. The purpose of this study
justice approach and (f) professional ethics. The WHO
was to identify core competencies for the provision of SRH
definition of SRH care that includes the reproductive health
in primary care in order to provide a framework for
of men and women throughout their life cycle, and
expanding SRH education for health professionals. We
adolescents of both sexes formed the basis of the criteria.
focused specifically on the competencies needed by family
The definition is not solely focused on reproduction and
physicians, nurses, advanced practice nurses including nurse
infection but includes sexual health, which is defined as the
practitioners and certified nurse midwives, physician
enhancement of life and personal relations. The definition
assistants and pharmacists.
addresses associated sociocultural factors, gender roles and
the respect and protection of human rights. The WHO
2. Material and methods competencies emphasize increasing the capacity of SRH
provision in primary care. See Tables 1A and 1B.
To identify and refine a set of core competencies, we used All of the competencies that we reviewed informed our initial
a modified Delphi method, as it allows for the maximum draft. For example, the discipline-specific competencies provided
amount of input from study participants. The Delphi method the background for scope of practice and educational training for
is a structured process used to achieve consensus from a wide the six professions. The WHO SRH Core Competencies in
range of individuals who are geographically dispersed on primary care and the UK SRH competencies for nursing, the
topics that currently lack evidence. In the initial round of generalist physician and the specialty obstetrician/gynecologist
questionnaires, expert opinion is solicited on a topic. The met most of our criteria. However, neither was specific to the
researchers incorporate feedback from this first round into unique needs of the US health care delivery system. After a
the next round using the participants' feedback. Participants review of the available competencies, the Working Group
have the option to reconsider their opinion in Round 2 of the identified 33 initial competencies for Round 1.
440 J. Cappiello et al. / Contraception 93 (2016) 438445
Table 1A
Review of existing competencies by organization
Organization WHO UK SRH Healthy People 2020 US Centers for Disease Women's Health
Control/Office of Population Curriculum Health
Affairs Selected Practice Resources and Services
Recommendations Administration/Office
of Women's Health
Survey of existing Competencies Competencies Action plan Practice standard Women's health
standards curriculum
Core SRH Clinical competencies Basic SRH services/skills, National goals focus Guidelines for family Focus on women's
domains: included family planning, contraception, unplanned on unintended pregnancy, planning services. health care. Identifies
pregnancy spacing, pregnancy care, women's prenatal care, Focus on how key context for
infertility, STI, abortion health/common gynecology, adolescent health, contraceptive methods women's health
care, peripregnancy care. assessment of specialty STI & HIV detection. can be used and provide curricula.
gynecology problems, recommendations on
pregnancy care, genitourinary optimal use of contraceptive
conditions of men, sexual methods for persons
health promotion, public of all ages,
health, ethics including adolescents.
Review criteria
Team approach Professional primary Primary care Applies to all health Applies to all health Pharmacy, medicine,
health care team for SRH providers (midwives, care providers care providers nursing, dentistry,
(specified by country) nurses, physicians) public health.
Pharmacy not addressed.
Primary care focus Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Focus on men Men & women Men & women Men & women Men & women Women only
& women
Sexual wellness Yes Yes No No Yes
Articulates RJ Yes Yes Not part of document Not part of document Social determinants
approach of health
Articulates Yes Yes Not specifically addressed Not specifically addressed Yes
professional ethics
Review process SRH experts in Clinical Effectiveness Federal Interagency Systematic review Expert panel
research, education, Unit (National Workgroup, Institute by CDC, WHO meetings
policy, service. Health Services), of Medicine
Delphi research RCOG, RCN
Includes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
abortion care
US based No No Yes Yes Yes
Reference 3 10 11 12 13
STI, sexually transmitted infections; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; RJ, reproductive justice; ACGME; Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical
Education.
The Round 1 Delphi survey was initially pilot tested by the researchers. The dual-email approach increased participation
Working Group members to ensure clarity of the structure of the rates in each round. Data collection occurred from July 2014 to
survey. The Working Group members then identified expert January 2015.
clinicians and educators in SRH through their professional We preserved anonymity among participants, and
networks to invite for participation in the study. The Institutional between participants and their individual responses. To
Review Board at the University of New Hampshire approved this provide additional layers of anonymity between participants
study. We invited 127 potential panelists via email using Survey and their responses, an ARHP staff member rather than the
Monkey. There is no agreement in the literature on the ideal researchers administered the survey. The staff person
sample size for Delphi surveys. In order to include adequate downloaded the anonymous results for each round from
representation from the six professions, we invited approximate- the survey tool and compiled comments according to each
ly 20 participants from each profession and sought participants competency. A data analysis firm conducted the statistical
from diverse geographic regions. The invitation email contained analysis of frequency and percentages for each competency.
the consent form, which had to be completed before advancing to We asked participants to provide feedback on each of 33
the survey. Participants received no compensation for participa- competencies by indicating that the competency was
tion. After 3 weeks, we sent reminder emails. When the initial sufficient as written, needed revision or should be dropped;
response was lower than expected, we gave a 2-week extension, they could also provide edits to suggest improvement in the
with one email reminder sent by the survey administrator and competency. In order to give participants the opportunity to
another email sent through the university email accounts of the review the input of the other participants in subsequent
J. Cappiello et al. / Contraception 93 (2016) 438445 441
Table 1B
Review of existing competencies by profession
Organization Physician Registered nurse Certified nurse Nurse practitioner Family medicine Pharmacists
assistant midwife
Survey of existing Competencies Competencies Competencies Competencies ACGME program Competencies
standards requirements
Core SRH Broad professional 1. Broad professional Basic midwifery Population focused Well-woman care, Broad professional
domains: competencies with competencies competencies for professional family planning, competencies with
a focus on with a focus on beginning clinical competencies. contraception and a focus on
patient-centered care patient-centered care practice, including SRH included in options counseling patient-centered care
2. ROE Consortium well woman, selected populations for unintended
competencies specific antepartum, pregnancy
to SRH intrapartum,
postpartum
and neonatal care
Review criteria
Team approach Discipline specific Discipline specific Discipline specific Discipline specific Discipline specific Discipline specific
Primary care focus Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Focus on men Men & women Men & women Men & women Men & women Women only Men & women
& women
Sexual wellness Nonspecific 1. Nonspecific Nonspecific Nonspecific Nonspecific Nonspecific
2. ROE Consortium
competencies
specific to SRH
Articulates RJ Uses general patient 1. Uses general Not part of document Uses general Not part of Uses general
approach centered care language patient centered patient centered document patient centered
care language care language care language
2. ROE Consortium
uses specific SRH language
Articulates Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
professional ethics
Review process National PA 1. Key stakeholders Key stakeholders Multiorganizational Family Medicine ACCP Task Force
organizations internal & external within the profession task force Residency Review
to nursing. Committee of
2. ROE Consortium-key ACGME
nursing stakeholder
Includes Broadly written, 1. Broadly written, No Inferred: support No Broadly written,
abortion care do not address do not address any a woman s right do not address
any specific specific health conditions to make her own any specific
health conditions 2. ROE Consortium decisions regarding health conditions
includes abortion care her health and
reproductive choices
within the context
of her belief system
US based Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Reference 14 15, 6 16 17 18 19
rounds, competencies were combined but not eliminated participants either accepted or rejected each competency as
until Round 3. The percent agreement for accepting, revising written; edits were no longer allowed.
or dropping the competency as written was calculated for
each competency at the end of each round. The authors met
in person to review the Round 1 comments and incorporate 3. Results
participant feedback into revised competencies. Round 2
participants received these revised competencies, accompa- Fifty participants completed Round 1. Most were female
nied by a summary of all of comments received and an (90%), and most had been in practice for more than 10 years
explanation indicating how competencies were combined, (74%). As would be expected from the educational
edited and reordered. In Round 2, survey participants again requirements of their respective disciplines, 98% of
had to choose whether each competency should be accepted, participants had master's degrees or higher. Most partici-
dropped or revised. Following Round 2, two authors (J.C., pants defined their primary professional practice as teaching
M.N.) incorporated comments and sought additional input (42%) or clinical practice (36%). Of those primarily in
from Working Group members to effectively incorporate the clinical practice, almost half were in academic practices
additional feedback from all of the panelists. For Round 3, (47%). Forty-nine of the 50 participants identified a clinical
442 J. Cappiello et al. / Contraception 93 (2016) 438445
incorporate the competencies into their profession-specific with the competencies, (d) development of continued
education and training. In health care education, professional professional development modules to disseminate the
competencies such as patient care and medical knowledge competencies and incorporate their use at all levels of
serve as a framework for teaching and assessment. More professional education, (e) evaluation of the use of the
recently, health professions educators have introduced entrus- competencies and (f) evaluation and refinement of the
table professional activities (EPAs) in order to better translate competencies as they continue to be implemented. The
competencies into clinical practice [9]. EPAs are the skills and competencies are dynamic and will continue to evolve as
behaviors that demonstrate mastery of the ability to indepen- needed by each professional group and with the evolution of
dently provide specific components of patient care. Compe- interprofessional models of care delivery, as well as the
tencies establish the basic parameters for EPAs; in order to incorporation of SRH care into primary care.
demonstrate, for example, that a clinician is able to perform a In terms of limitations, the survey administrator and data
procedure safely and without discomfort to the patient, s/he analyst ensured anonymity and accuracy but added more
must first understand the components of the procedure and the time between each round, thus lengthening the data
rationale for providing the procedure. Many of the competen- collection period. This may have contributed to a loss of
cies generated by this group actually describe discrete momentum to the task of refining the competencies. In
professional activities in SRH care and thus will fit well into addition, the software used could not filter out who had
assessment systems that use EPAs to determine readiness for already responded; thus, reminders were sent to all
independent performance. participants in Round 3, including six participants who did
Other models already exist which suggest a process for the not respond to Round 2. Although representatives from all
articulation of standards for the development of the knowledge, professions were represented in the Working Group,
attitude and skills required for a specific area of practice. recruitment efforts were less successful in identifying
The Core Competencies in Genetics for all Health significant numbers of study participants from the profes-
Professional articulated broad genetic competencies for all sions of pharmacy and physician assistants.
professions [10]. Each profession further identified curric- In conclusion, using Delphi methods, a group of experts
ular guidelines and outcome indicators. Nursing developed identified 26 competencies in sexual and reproductive health
language to further specify competency at the registered care for the interprofessional team. This comprehensive list
nurse and advanced practice level. Geriatrics followed a addresses the gaps in existing SRH competencies in health
similar process with the Multidisciplinary Competencies in professions education. Sexual and reproductive health
the Care of the Older Adult at the Completion of the competencies for primary care can inform curricula across
Entry-level Health Professional Degree [11]. Thirty profes- health care professions, filling the gap between an
sional organizations have endorsed the geriatric competen- established standard of care necessary to meet patient
cies, and 10 health care disciplines have formally adopted the needs and the outcomes of that care.
competencies.
Following the example set by the geriatrics and Acknowledgments
gerontology models, and the WHO and the UK SRH
models, we have identified these next steps: (a) dissemina- We acknowledge the ARHP; the ARHP Working Group
tion of the competencies to the primary care professions on Core Competencies; Rana Suliman, Senior Program
through their formal and informal organizational networks, Manager at ARHP, for managing the survey software; and
(b) endorsement from a variety of professional health care John Ogawa, PhD, of LTG Associates for his statistical
organizations, (c) development of curricular tools to align analysis support.
444 J. Cappiello et al. / Contraception 93 (2016) 438445
Table 3
Core competencies in SRH care for the interprofessional primary care team
Frequency Percent
Professional ethics and reproductive justice
1. Support patients' choices in sexual and reproductive 44 100.0
health care in a nonjudgmental and nondiscriminatory
manner, including their right to consent for or refuse care.
2. Act consistently in accordance with professional ethics and standards. 38 86.4
3. Incorporate knowledge of sexual and reproductive 39 90.7
anatomy and physiology and sex and age-specific
pharmacotherapeutic considerations into care.
4. Incorporate principles of the reproductive justice framework 37 86.0
when delivering sexual and reproductive health services.
Explanation: The reproductive justice framework recognizes
that the ability of any person to determine his/her reproductive
destiny is linked to the conditions in his/her community
and his/her full achievement of human rights.
5. Provide culturally sensitive sexual and reproductive care 43 97.7
with regard to race, ethnicity, class, gender identity and
expression, sexual orientation and disabilities.
6. Provide sexual and reproductive health care that meets 42 97.7
the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer/questioning
and transgender patients, with referral as needed.
Collaboration in SRH care
7. Collaborate with interprofessional team members through 43 97.7
shared goals, effective communication, mutual respect
and understanding of roles in the provision of
sexual and reproductive health care.
8. Provide referrals to community-based resources and/or 43 97.7
sexual and reproductive specialists when appropriate.
SRH services
9. Screen for pregnancy intention and provide 43 100.0
preconception care as indicated.
10. Provide counseling and/or referral for 40 93.0
reproductive health-related genetic screening.
11. Provide care for patients with fertility concerns. 36 83.7
12. Provide care for patients with early pregnancy loss, 43 100.0
ectopic pregnancy and other complications conditions
of early pregnancy with referral as needed.
13. Provide pregnancy testing and patient-centered pregnancy 43 97.7
options counseling that includes parenting, abortion and adoption.
14. Provide patient-centered contraceptive counseling, care and 43 100.0
management, including all appropriate methods and emergency contraception.
15. Provide abortion care including counseling, medication and 41 95.3
aspiration abortion, and follow-up care or referral if unable to provide these services.
16. Provide sexual and reproductive health care for postpartum patients. 43 100.0
17. Provide screening, diagnostic testing and treatment for 43 100.0
reproductive tract infections and sexually transmitted infections.
18. Provide screening, diagnostic testing and referral for reproductive tract cancers. 42 97.7
19. Provide care for patients with benign conditions of the reproductive tract. 42 97.7
20. Provide sexual and reproductive health care during the perimenopausal and postmenopausal period. 42 97.7
21. Provide counseling to promote sexual health and well-being across the lifespan. 43 100.0
22. Provide education and counseling regarding safer sex practices. 43 100.0
23. Provide screening and care for patients with sexual health concerns, including adolescents and older adults. 38 88.4
Conditions affecting SRH
24. Identify patients who have experienced sexual coercion, violence, 43 100.0
abuse or exploitation and provide counseling and/or referrals as needed.
25. Assess and provide counseling regarding environmental risk factors that affect reproductive health. 38 88.4
26. Provide screening, care and referral as needed for behavioral 41 95.3
and mental health concerns identified in the context of sexual and reproductive health care.
J. Cappiello et al. / Contraception 93 (2016) 438445 445