title: The role of pharmacists and emergency contraception: Are pharmacists' perceptions of emergency contraception predictive of their dispensing practices?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pharmacists can play a critical role in the access to emergency contraception (EC). We assessed if knowledge and attitudes were predictive of EC dispensing among a statewide sample of Florida pharmacists, who have legal authority to refuse to dispense medications.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2008, surveys were mailed to a random sample of 1264 pharmacists registered with the Florida Board of Pharmacy. Data from 272 pharmacists (22% response rate) were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six percent of respondents incorrectly answered that EC causes birth defects, and 46% replied that it causes abortion. Only 22% said that EC can be purchased in advance of need. Many felt uncomfortable dispensing to adolescents (61%) and men (58%). Knowledge about EC was the most important predictor of dispensing [odds ratio (OR)=1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-2.03]. In particular, pharmacists who reported that EC does not act as an abortifacient were more likely to dispense it (OR=4.64, 95% CI 2.15-10.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Correct information about EC was the most important predictor of pharmacists' dispensing EC. To expand availability of EC, pharmacists will have to become better informed.
authors.affiliation: East Carolina University, College of Health and Human Performance, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. richmana@ecu.edu
authors.forename: Alice R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Richman
authors.forename: Ellen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kromrey
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perrin
mesh_terms: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000941:ethics; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000941:ethics; D011361:Professional Competence; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D016079:Refusal to Treat
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital