International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022420110417147147ENPharm D, Isfahan Pharmaceutical Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.Pharm D, Isfahan Clinical Toxicology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.MD, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.Pharmacy Student, School of Pharma-cy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.2011032620110929<p>Objectives: Emergency contraception&nbsp; (EC)&nbsp; is a special contraception method&nbsp; that prevents pregnancy after an unsafe sexual contact. Pharmacists, as&nbsp; the most available member of medical&nbsp; team have a unique role in patient education for appropriate use of contraceptive methods. <br />In this study, we assessed the pharmacists' knowledge about emergency contraception. <br />Methods: A&nbsp; researcher made&nbsp; questionnaire was&nbsp; developed&nbsp; and&nbsp; used according&nbsp; to national guide&nbsp; line and electronic databanks. A group of experts&nbsp; and&nbsp; pharmacists&nbsp; validated&nbsp; the&nbsp; questionnaire.&nbsp; Reliability&nbsp; was measured by Half&ndash;Split Test. The questionnaires were&nbsp; filled by pharmacists. <br />Results:&nbsp; Average&nbsp; knowledge&nbsp; score&nbsp; were&nbsp; 8.12&nbsp; &plusmn;&nbsp; 0.28&nbsp; for&nbsp; women&nbsp; and&nbsp; 7.83 &plusmn; 0.31 for men (from a maximum of 15) which showed no significant&nbsp; difference&nbsp; between men&nbsp; and women&nbsp; (P =&nbsp; 0.492).&nbsp; There was&nbsp; no significant difference between pharmacists who had precipitated in continuing education programs and that of those who had not (P = 0.286). <br />Scores of pharmacists who graduated 13 years ago or more did not significantly differ from others (P = 0.287). <br />Conclusions: Because of low scores of pharmacist&rsquo;s knowledge about EC&nbsp; and&nbsp; the&nbsp; importance&nbsp; of&nbsp; unintended&nbsp; pregnancy&nbsp; prevention,&nbsp; its&nbsp; improvement&nbsp; is an urgent need. Regular and&nbsp; frequent continuing education programs could be one of the recommended interventions. <br />Keywords: Knowledge, Pharmacist, Isfahan, Emergency contraception.</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/147http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/147/356