Provision of emergency contraception in general practice and confidentiality for the under 16's: results of a postal survey by general practitioners in Avon.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the provision of emergency contraception and confidentiality for the under 16's by general practitioners (GPs) in Avon, in order to inform the development of a health promotion intervention in schools in Avon.


METHODS
Confidential postal questionnaire survey.


METHODS
All principals in general practice in Avon Health Authority, South West England.


METHODS
Five hundred and eighty general practice principals were sent the questionnaire.


RESULTS
Four hundred and eighty-six (84%) principals in general practice responded to the questionnaire. Only three (0.6%) GPs did not provide hormonal emergency contraception. Nearly half (232, 47.7%) would fit the intrauterine device (IUD) as emergency contraception. Fitting an IUD was associated with female gender of the GP (OR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.53-3.71), and whether the GP had a family planning qualification (OR = 4.55, 95% CI 2.41-8.60). Three hundred and fifty-two (72%) respondents would provide emergency contraception on a Sunday if requested to do so by a 14-year-old who reported having had unprotected sex the night before. Practice nurses in 26 (5%) of the respondent's practices were available to provide advice and tablets for patients requesting hormonal emergency contraception. However, 74 (21%) respondents employed a family planning trained practice nurse who was not involved in any way in the provision of emergency contraception. Practice nurses remain an under used resource in this area.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that most GPs provide hormonal emergency contraception. Only eight (1.6%) of respondents would need to ask for parental consent prior to providing hormonal emergency contraception to a 14-year old-girl. Young people need to be informed of GPs widespread adherence to current confidentiality guidelines.
Graham
A
A
Clinical Research Fellow, Division of Primary Health Care, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. a.graham@bristol.ac.uk
Moore
L
L
Sharp
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003219:Confidentiality; D003282:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Hormonal / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033282:Parental Consent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
D003282:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Hormonal