title: Misconceptions about oral contraception pills among adolescents and physicians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited access to contraception and poor compliance are the major reasons for unintended pregnancy in adolescence. This study was designed to compare knowledge of the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) in teenage users and non-users. We speculated that consultations between COCP users and their physicians would dispel misconceptions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in public clinics affiliated with an academic center. High school-educated female adolescents aged 14-20 years opting for contraception (n = 254) and Israeli physicians (n = 114) specializing in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology participated in the study. Information about past or present COCP use and views of the COCP were recorded by employing a ten-question YES/NO self-completion questionnaire, designed by the researchers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of incorrect beliefs was exceedingly high in the whole adolescent study group and relatively high among the physicians. The prevalence of incorrect beliefs was comparable between COCP users and non-users, regarding the 10 misconceptions investigated. The duration of COCP use did not influence the prevalence of misconceptions about the pill. Age did not serve as a confounding factor for all misconceptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lack of informative communication between COCP-prescribing physicians and users and mistaken knowledge of the caring physicians may contribute to adolescent ignorance of the COCP. Focusing on adolescent-specific disbeliefs could lead to construction of better educational programs in schools and clinics.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Mount Scopus, PO Box 24035, Jerusalem 24035, Israel.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Hamani
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Sciaki-Tamir
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Deri-Hasid
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Miller-Pogrund
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Milwidsky
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Haimov-Kochman
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined