The final question on the checklist concerns the date of the woman's last menstrual period. This can help health workers determine when the woman can start COCs. This checklist contains six questions about health conditions, including diabetes and breast cancer. The final question concerns the date of the woman's last menses, with instructions on when the woman may receive her injection. Our health care workers already use checklists.
Medical technology changes continually.
New research findings can affect the types of contraceptives available or refine and improve existing contraceptive methods. In addition, research findings can help improve service delivery and can change health policies. Figure 1 illustrates the path from research to service delivery. The checklists enclosed in this packet reflect the most current, accurate scientific research on safe contraceptive use. While the pregnancy checklists are new, the COC and DMPA checklists include subtle but important changes in the wording of questions.