The effect of an educational video on knowledge, attitude, and use of contraception in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: A randomized controlled study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an educational video on knowledge of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and pregnancy, contraceptive efficacy, attitudes toward contraception, and utilization of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) among women with SLE. Study design: We conducted a randomized controlled trial at a university hospital rheumatology clinic from June 2023 to April 2024. We randomized 114 women with SLE who were at risk of pregnancy to the intervention or control groups. All participants received standard contraceptive counseling; the intervention group additionally viewed an educational video addressing the relationship between SLE and pregnancy and contraceptive methods. We assessed knowledge of SLE and pregnancy, contraceptive efficacy, attitudes toward contraception, and contraceptive use before and after the intervention. Results: After the intervention, a significantly higher proportion of women in the intervention group demonstrated proficient knowledge about SLE's effects on pregnancy outcomes compared with those in the control group (99.6% vs. 48.5%, P < 0.05). Women in the intervention group considered contraceptive efficacy as the main reason for choosing a specific contraceptive method, whereas the effect on SLE was the reason in the control group. Immediately after the intervention, 45.6% of women in the intervention group expressed interest in LARC, compared with 5.3% in the control group (P < 0.001). However, at one-month follow-up, LARC use did not differ significantly between intervention and control groups (5.3% vs. 1.8%, P = 0.618). Conclusion: The educational video improved immediate knowledge and increased initial interest in LARC among women with SLE. Nonetheless, the impact on actual LARC use was minimal. Implication: Educational video-based counseling significantly improved knowledge about SLE and pregnancy, particularly in recognizing highly effective contraceptive methods and understanding contraceptive efficacy. This finding highlights the important role of educational videos in enhancing contraceptive awareness and guiding the selection of an appropriate method.