title: Emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) use and experiences at college health centers in the mid-Atlantic United States: changes since ECP went over-the-counter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the availability of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) at college health centers since ECP went over-the-counter (OTC) in 2006. Related issues, such as distribution procedure, existence of a written protocol, personnel involved, contraindications, follow-up procedures, methods of advertising, and staff attitudes, were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 135 college and university health centers in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected via telephone survey with the use of a 42-item survey instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three percent of schools reported distributing ECPs, for an average of 10.6 years. Major changes in ECP distribution and usage since ECP went OTC related primarily to protocol in ECP distribution, advertising for ECP services, and ECP accessibility to university students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  College health centers are responding to the OTC status of ECP in a number of ways, primarily relating to their distribution procedures and advertising techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Physical Education, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, Pennsylvania 16444, USA. LMMiller@edinboro.edu
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000329:Advertising; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs