The Effectiveness of an Elective About Fertility Awareness-Based Methods on Students’ Knowledge: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Nursing and Medical Students

Marguerite Duane; Meredith Krutar; Kellie Wo; Logan Waechtler

doi:10.63264/yy0bta86

Clinician Education and Training Clinician Training

The Effectiveness of an Elective About Fertility Awareness-Based Methods on Students’ Knowledge: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Nursing and Medical Students

Duane M, Krutar M, Wo K, Waechtler L

Published December 28, 2025 Journal of Restorative Reproductive Medicine, 1, 1-9

DOI 10.63264/yy0bta86

RRM Academy Synopsis

Fertility awareness-based methods elective raised scores to about 90%

An elective on fertility awareness-based methods raised knowledge scores to about 90% in a quasi-experimental study of 120 nursing and medical students. Scores rose from 65% to 90% on average after the course. All three course formats ended at about 90%. The formats ran from two weeks online to a full semester.

Study at a glance, quasi-experimental study: A fertility awareness elective raised knowledge scores to about 90% — Study at a glance, quasi-experimental study of 120 nursing and medical students: A fertility awareness elective raised knowledge scores to about 90%. Source: Duane M et al., 2025, DOI 10.63264/yy0bta86.

Key Findings

Across all 120 students, the mean score on the 20-question assessment rose from 12.93 to 17.96, a gain of 5.03 points (65% to 90%, p<0.001).
Scores rose for 91.7% of students, fell for 3.3%, and stayed the same for 5.0%.
Before the course, undergraduate nursing students scored about 50% and both medical student groups about 70%. After it, all three groups averaged about 90%, with no difference between groups.
Nursing students gained 7.38 points, the largest increase of the three groups.

Interpretation

Researchers ran a quasi-experimental study that compared scores before and after a course. Each of the 120 students took the same assessment twice. The main outcome was the change in knowledge scores from before to after the course. The authors note that the study enrolled students who signed up for the elective, so the results may not apply to all medical and nursing students.

RRM Context

Restorative reproductive medicine relies on clinicians who understand cycle charting. The course taught seven methods, among them the Billings Ovulation Method, the Creighton Model and the Marquette Method, in lectures given by physicians and researchers trained in them. Most students began the course not at all familiar with the modern methods. The authors suggest that a fully online elective could make this knowledge easily available worldwide.

Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.

Abstract

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of an elective to improve students’ knowledge of fertility awareness-based methods for family planning and to determine whether there was a difference in knowledge gained by student type and/or course structure.

Design

A quasi-experimental study of pre- and post- assessment scores among three different groups of healthcare students.

Subjects

In one group, 24 undergraduate nursing students in a semester-long hybrid course. In a second group, 16 second year medical students in a six-week hybrid selective course. In the third group, 80 fourth year medical students in a two-week online elective for a total of 120 students completing the elective from January 2018 to June 2020.

Intervention

All students completed a knowledge assessment before the course, and the identical assessment after the course, with a maximum possible score of 20. ANOVA and non-parametric tests were used for data analysis.

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcome measure was comparison of post-course scores to pre-course scores.

Results

The mean pre-course score of about 50% in the undergraduate nursing group (x) was lower than the medical students in the six-week course (y) and two-week course (z) both about 70%. However, there was no difference in the mean post-course scores between the groups, which was about 90%.

Limitations

Assessments were mandated, but lectures were not, which could skew assessment scores. Additionally, the study focused on students signing up for the elective so it may not be generalizable to all medical and nursing student populations. Finally, educational interests and demographics impacting a student’s ability to learn and retain FABM knowledge is beyond the scope of this study.

Conclusion

This elective was effective in improving fertility awareness-based method knowledge of medical and nursing students. All student groups had strong post-course knowledge scores – 90% accuracy, regardless of course structure. A fully online elective has the potential to make this knowledge easily available worldwide.

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Fertility Awareness Methods Compared

Topics

Clinician Education and Training › Clinician Training › Curriculum and Competencies · Fertility Awareness › Effectiveness › Comparative Effectiveness

Marguerite Duane, Meredith Krutar, Kellie Wo, Logan Waechtler

M Duane, M Krutar, K Wo, L Waechtler

DOI 10.63264/yy0bta86 10.63264/yy0bta86 Duane et al. 2025, Duane 2025

The Effectiveness of an Elective About Fertility Awareness-Based Methods on Students’ Knowledge: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Nursing and Medical Students

Fertility awareness-based methods elective raised scores to about 90%

Key Findings

Interpretation

RRM Context

Abstract

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Topics

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