Emergency Contraception and the Knowledge of Community Pharmacists in Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Objectives: Emergency contraception  (EC)  is a special contraception method  that prevents pregnancy after an unsafe sexual contact. Pharmacists, as  the most available member of medical  team have a unique role in patient education for appropriate use of contraceptive methods.
In this study, we assessed the pharmacists' knowledge about emergency contraception.
Methods: A  researcher made  questionnaire was  developed  and  used according  to national guide  line and electronic databanks. A group of experts  and  pharmacists  validated  the  questionnaire.  Reliability  was measured by Half–Split Test. The questionnaires were  filled by pharmacists.
Results:  Average  knowledge  score  were  8.12  ±  0.28  for  women  and  7.83 ± 0.31 for men (from a maximum of 15) which showed no significant  difference  between men  and women  (P =  0.492).  There was  no significant difference between pharmacists who had precipitated in continuing education programs and that of those who had not (P = 0.286).
Scores of pharmacists who graduated 13 years ago or more did not significantly differ from others (P = 0.287).
Conclusions: Because of low scores of pharmacist’s knowledge about EC  and  the  importance  of  unintended  pregnancy  prevention,  its  improvement  is an urgent need. Regular and  frequent continuing education programs could be one of the recommended interventions.
Keywords: Knowledge, Pharmacist, Isfahan, Emergency contraception.