MiLARC: A pilot web-based intervention to increase acceptability and knowledge of LARC among university students
Contraception
Awarded 2014
Trainee Grants
Amy Caldwell, BS
University of Michigan
$5,000

Objective: We developed and tested MiLARC—a theory-guided, web-based public health intervention designed to deliver accurate, targeted, and comprehensive LARC information in an engaging population-level platform. Methods: Informed by findings from our broader ongoing project to investigate and address multi-level barriers to LARC, we used a theory-guided approach to adapt an existing web-based contraceptive education intervention for targeted LARC content and an updated multimedia format. We conducted a pilot two-armed randomized controlled trial of MiLARC among female undergraduate students at the University of Michigan. Online surveys measured outcomes, including LARC acceptability and knowledge, intentions, and uptake at baseline, post-intervention, and three and six months. We compared differences in outcomes between MiLARC intervention and control groups using bivariate statistics and multi-level, multivariable regression models. Results: Preliminary results suggest that both the MiLARC intervention and control groups experienced modest improvements over time (pre-test to post-test, most notably) in acceptability, knowledge scores, and intentions for uptake, for both IUDs and implants. However, there does not appear to be consistent, significant differences in outcomes between the intervention and control groups, at any time point. Conclusions: We are currently exploring possible mechanisms through which the MiLARC intervention and controls groups may have been similarly effective, including examining google analytics user data, and working to disseminate our lessons learned and recommendations for future research.