Education of Providers Crucial in Ensuring that Patients Receive Desired Postpartum Sterilization Procedures

In July 2012 the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) published Committee Opinion No. 530, stating that postpartum sterilization should be considered an urgent surgical procedure. The purpose of this study was to determine whether active dissemination of the ACOG Committee Opinion and education of staff (our intervention) would result in higher rates of postpartum sterilizations.

Two separate studies were conducted: (1) a retrospective chart review that examined postpartum sterilization rates prior to our intervention and (2) a prospective study that examined postpartum sterilization rates after the intervention.

In the 3 months prior to the ACOG publication, 14 of 23 (61%) intended postpartum sterilization procedures were performed. During the 4 months after publication, 29 of 52 (55%) were completed (x² p=0.619). In the 5 months after education efforts, 69 of 79 (87%) were completed, showing a statistically significant improvement frot both prior time periods (x² p<0.001).

Patients who desired postpartum sterilization during the prospective study were 5 times less likely to have their procedure canceled than were patients in the retrospective study. The Committee Opinion had. no significant effect on. com- pletion rates. Education of staff and the ongoing study were instrumental in facilitating desired tubal sterilizations.