Knowledge, attitudes and practices in a group of pharmacists in Puerto Rico regarding emergency contraception.
BACKGROUND
The recent FDA approval of non-prescription sales of Plan B, an emergency contraceptive method to those 18 years old and over, gives a prominent role to pharmacists in providing timely access to emergency contraception (EC). While this decision affects Puerto Rico, no studies on non-prescription EC in Puerto Rico have been conducted. The purpose of this study is to identify the knowledge, attitudes and practices of a group of pharmacists in Puerto Rico regarding emergency contraceptive pills.


METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive study of a group of pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding EC was conducted among those who attended the annual convention of the College of Pharmacists of Puerto Rico on August 24-26, 2006.


RESULTS
Slightly more than half of pharmacists surveyed (51.4%) supported a law that allows them to dispense EC without a prescription. Yet, overall EC knowledge was low given that the average number of knowledge questions answered correctly was 1.8 (SD+/-1.36) out of 6. Pharmacists who correctly answered knowledge questions about EC, whose pharmacy dispensed EC, and who felt comfortable giving information to a client about EC were significantly more likely to support the non-prescription EC law.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge about EC was low among the pharmacists that were surveyed, but there was support for a non-prescription EC policy in Puerto Rico. Increased education efforts are needed in this important group of allied health professionals.
Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, USA. lizafuentes@mac.com
Elizabeth C
EC
Fuentes
Yamila
Y
Azize-Vargas
D044363:Contraception, Postcoital; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010595:Pharmacists; D011647:Puerto Rico; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires