• Mary Stewart, Erol Digiusto, Deborah Bateson, Rebecca South, and Kirsten I Black.
• Aust Fam Physician. 2016 Nov 1; 45 (11): 837-841.

BackgroundIntrauterine devices (IUDs) are underused in Australia despite being one of the most effective, reversible methods of contraception.ObjectiveThe objective of this article is to report on the outcomes of a competency-based IUD training program by Family Planning NSW for general practitioners (GPs).MethodsPre-training and post-training questionnaires were used for a 12-month cohort study of GPs who undertook IUD insertion training.ResultsTwenty-two GPs (92%) completed the follow-up questionnaire; 19 participants reported attempting a total of 238 IUD insertions, 212 (89%) of which were successful. Few complications were reported. Most participants cited inadequate remuneration, time constraints and lack of appropriate patients as barriers to performing IUD insertion. Nearly all (96%) were confident with IUD insertion in multiparous women, but only 46% felt confident inserting in nulliparous women. There was evidence of a reduction in referrals to external IUD inserters following training.DiscussionTraining enabled GPs to insert IUDs in their practices, but more than two-thirds (68%) fitted fewer than 12 devices during follow-up. A number of barriers to IUD insertion in general practice can be addressed to improve community access.

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