Knowledge and attitudes about emergency contraception among pharmacist and physician preceptors in South Carolina

Abstract

Background: Emergency contraception (EC) may reduce unintended pregnancies if patients are informed and have access. A great deal of medical education occurs during medical and pharmacy training community clerkships. This study concurrently assesses knowledge and attitudes about EC between community physician and pharmacist preceptors who prescribe/dispense EC. Study design: Electronic survey of demographic information, knowledge-based, and attitude questions related to EC was completed by 182 (36.6% response rate) South Carolina ¬community physicians and pharmacists who precept students. Comparisons were performed using chi-square or Fischer’s exact test. Results: In the study population, approximately 62% of pharmacists dispense EC while only 28% of physicians prescribe it. More physicians than pharmacists believe repetitive use is not harmful (48.3% vs 28.0%, P = 0.010), while more pharmacists believe it causes birth defects (22.6% vs 7.9%, P = 0.008). Conclusion: Overall, both physicians and pharmacists have poor knowledge about EC. ¬Further education for both groups may be needed so future physicians and pharmacists are not taught incorrectly during their training and so patient access is not hampered by prescriber misunderstanding.