title: Emergency contraception: knowledge, attitudes and practice of the pharmacy staff in Aydin, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to emergency contraception (EC) among pharmacy staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive and cross-sectional survey was conducted among 143 pharmacy staff in Aydin city centre who agreed to participate. Data was collected thorough questionnaires that were filled in by face to face interviews between April and June 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Remarkably most of the participants (n = 110) did not know the action mechanism of these pills. Forty-four participants reported that these drugs caused mostly hormonal side-effects. Only four participants knew all indications of EC pills. According to 72 participants, contraceptive pills should not be available without a prescription. The number of pharmacy staff who reported giving counseling to clients about family planning methods was low (n = 12).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study revealed that pharmacy staff in the region had inadequate knowledge on EC. Pharmacy staff may play a crucial role in women's access to EC, and there is a need for new interventions to improve and update their knowledge on, and to improve their attitudes toward EC methods.
authors: Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Department, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin School for Health Sciences, Aydin, Turkey. hilniyeaksu@yahoo.com
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Aksu
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Başak
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Küçük
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Yeniçeri
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000494:pharmacology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010595:Pharmacists; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital