Table 5 Suggestions
From: Understanding the perspective of women who use the Billings Ovulation Method®: a focus group study
Category | Suggestions | Example Quotes | |
|---|---|---|---|
Teaching & Learning | Expectations of instructors | • Standardize the Billings Method instruction process • Clarify to clients what is included in their fee and that they can ask instructors questions • Have instructors be open to referring clients to others if they are not a good fit • Encourage instructors to continue their education | I wanted to be sure I can give feedback to help [with] the standardization and that all instructors would be following that process. (FG1) |
Instructional content & materials | • Better explain/describe the process of observing sensations • Make PowerPoints more visually appealing • Messages to communicate: ○ Potential for environmental factors to affect the cycle ○ Learning the Billings Method is a process ○ Cycles vary • Start teaching girls at a young age; use appropriate language and messaging for younger audiences | We need to have more grace with ourselves as new users, and our instruction could include that. That your first cycle might not look like this… it's just you're learning how to describe what you're experiencing. (FG2) I know there are programs already out there teaching girls Billings at [a] younger age, and I think that is perfect… The earlier, the better cause it's not just about getting pregnant or not getting pregnant; it's about who are you. What is your body telling you?… Using simplified terms like, do you see how nature uses her seasons to change? (FG3) | |
Finding an instructor | • Make lists of instructors available • Include information about instructors on the website • Instructors should communicate about the populations they are comfortable serving (e.g., married v. unmarried, the language of instruction, etc.) • Allow clients to search for instructors based on specialty • Assist with matching clients with instructors (e.g., potential client survey) | I feel like instructors are similar to therapists, that you need to have a rapport with them, trust, and feel that you can tell them everything… I would like people to know more about me or to have like the little bio of myself on the website … definitely, it would be nice to have an institutionalized way to do it, like here [are] our instructors, here is a little video…here is a bio, what their life looks like… (FG2) | |
Using the Billings Method in the context of relationships | • Offer overview educational materials for partners • Guide couples on other forms of intimacy for periods of abstinence | It'd be cool if there was just a one-page overview for partners. Like the basics, here's what we're doing, [and] the results we're looking for. (FG4) | |
Charting tools | • Better communicate the availability of apps • Improve usability of existing apps • Create apps with features such as: ○ Reminders ○ Mood tracking ○ Partner sharing/communication • Offer easier-to-use charting tools like notebooks or Excel documents • Have example charts available for different situations (e.g., postpartum, Breastfeeding, PCOS, etc.) | If there was … one standardized booklet that you can use for like five years and keep with you….Cause a loose piece of paper you misplace all the time or the tiny ones you can't even write on it. (FG2) I had days where the whole day would go by, and I'd be like… "Did I did I feel wet today?" So… if we're talking about optimizing the app, having a feature that kind of checks in with you. (FG4) …Instructors don't even know there is an app to tell their students. (FG1) | |
The Billings Method communications | Expanding the Billings Method user base | • Better promote the benefits of the Billings Method (e.g., accuracy, ease, ability to monitor health) to potential users • Expand promotion of The Billings Method outside of the religious sphere; offer non-religious messaging • Have easy-to-understand material on the website | So, hopefully, Billings could do a better job when they are promoting this Method… "hey, this method is set apart, is different, [if] you don't want to be taking temperatures and you don't want internal investigations, and you still want a 99% accuracy, and you want maybe [to] postpone or prevent or you want to achieve. (FG1) In the interest of attracting a wider audience, I find that sometimes there's maybe a little more religious messaging included than necessary…(FG4) |
Educating healthcare providers on the Billings Method | • Develop a database of healthcare providers who are aware/supportive of the method • Raise awareness/educate healthcare providers about the method | I feel like just having that awareness out there and make it clear to physicians, practitioners in general; this is NOT what you are thinking, this is NOT the rhythm method, this is not "you count the day 14th"…So, letting them know, hey, this is different. (FG1) It would be great if we could have more OBGYNs that know about Billings and are trained or even just have heard about it and read the study before. (FG2) | |