Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  The levonorgestrel intrauterine device in Australia:  analysis of prescribing data 2 008 - 
2012  
 
Version: 1 Date: 25 Jun 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Reviewer  2 
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
"PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS: To view the fu ll report from the academic peer reviewer, 
please see the attached file.  
 
 
REVIEWER COMMENTS FROM REPORT: The study is a good one, but the authors need to 
clarify certain concepts and exercise caution in the interpretation of findings. The mere fact that 
thee absolute numbers increased doesn't indicate an increase, since the the total number in the 
eligible population would have also increased. The authors should be cautious in mixing 
prescription and utilization, as they might be different indicators.  
 
 
REQU ESTED REVISIONS:  
 
Abstract  
 
The authors stated that their aim is to calculate thee prescribing rates of the LNG -IUD in 
Australia. A mere calculation cannot be the goal of a paper. The reason for the calculation will 
be more appropriate.  
 
 
Others  
 
Line 135 There ought to be a difference between prescription and uptake; however, the only 
outcome pointed out is the number of prescriptions for the LNG -IUD recorded in (line 136) the 
PBS dataset.  
 
Line 164…Poisson regression was used to examine associati ons between LNG -IUD prescribing. 
How? What is the variable and its possible values?  
 
 
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS:  
 
none"  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Qual ity of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
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financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests  in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
This reviewer has been recruited by a partner organization, Research Square. Reviewers with 
declared or apparent compet ing interests are not utilized for these reviews. This reviewer has 
agreed to publication of their comments online under a Creative Commons Attribution License 
attributed to Research Square and was paid a small honorarium for completing the review within 
a specified timeframe. Honoraria for reviews such as this are paid regardless of the reviewer 
recommendation.  
 
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