Virtual Intrauterine Device Placement Training Improves Clinician Comfort

Virtual intrauterine device (IUD) training options can improve clinician continuing education and patient IUD access. Our objective was to evaluate a virtual, hands-on IUD training for primary care clinicians.

Training sessions occurred via video conferencing and included didactic instruction on IUD eligibility, counseling, placement, and removal. Trainers used pelvic models to demonstrate procedures for all Food and Drug Administration-approved IUDs and guided trainees during hands-on practice with IUDs. Surveys administered before and immediately after training assessed clinician satisfaction and evaluated pre-to-posttraining changes in self-rated comfort level with IUD procedures. We evaluated the changes using Wilcoxon signed-rank sum tests.

Thirty-four New Mexico clinicians were trained during 29 sessions from January-June 2021. Trainees (n=32 responding to pre/postsurveys) included nurse practitioners and midwives (48%), physician assistants (28%), physicians (17%), and clinicians in training (7%). Approximately one-third (37%) had previous experience placing IUDs. Elements of training delivery were highly rated by clinicians, with all trainees successfully using the virtual platform and half indicating that they would potentially choose a virtual training over an in-person option in the future. After the training, clinicians reported significantly increased comfort with all aspects of IUD placement and removal (P≤.01).

An interactive, virtual IUD training model was highly rated among practicing clinicians and increased their comfort with IUD placement and removal.