Predictors of pharmacists' provision of emergency contraceptive pills

ABSTRACT

We carried out a cross-sectional, web-based study to identify predictors (personal characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes) of Serbian pharmacists' decisions to decline emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) dispensing. In total, 452 questionnaires were completed and analyzed. Half of the surveyed pharmacists had poor knowledge of ECP. Almost the same number (42%) had either never undertaken training in these products or did not remember having training. The less knowledgeable respondents were more likely to decline ECP provision overall (OR 1.862) and in particular circumstances (nonintended user (OR 1.412) or >72 h after intercourse (OR 1.445)). To expand availability of these products, well-organized trainings are needed.

Acknowledgments

J. Milosavljevic is an employee of Bayer d.o.o. The remaining authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and the writing of the article. We thank those pharmacists who participated in our study. The contribution of Steve Quarrie, who revised the manuscript for English language and grammar, is gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

The research of D. Krajnovic was partially supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia (Project No.41004).