A randomized controlled educational intervention on emergency contraception among drugstore personnel in southern Thailand.
OBJECTIVE
to document the effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving knowledge of and practice in dispensing emergency contraception (EC) among drugstore personnel in Thailand.


METHODS
Sixty of 120 drugstores in Hat Yai, a city in Southern Thailand, were randomly selected, and half of them were randomly assigned to participate in an educational program. Well-trained "secret" shoppers went into each store before the intervention and at 1 and 3 months after the program to assess the knowledge of and practice in dispensing EC among the drugstore personnel.


RESULTS
Dispensing practices at baseline were poor to fair and knowledge was fair in both groups. Sellers in the intervention group improved significantly in choice of drug, advice provided, and knowledge of the time limit for initiating EC, but those in the control group did not. However, proper history taking on the time of intercourse and menstrual cycle was poor in both groups at all study periods.


CONCLUSIONS
All drugstore personnel should be educated on the importance of history taking and on the time limit for initiating EC.
Ratanajamit
Chaveewan
C
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.
Chongsuvivatwong
Virasakdi
V
Geater
Alan F
AF
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003282:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Hormonal / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand
D003282:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Hormonal; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs