Turkish pharmacists’ counseling practices and attitudes regarding emergency contraceptive pills

Apikoğlu-Rabuş, Şule; Clark, Patricia M.; İzzettin, Fikret

doi:10.1007/s11096-012-9647-x

Cited by 20 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…This difference in result may be due to the concern of CPPs of Kathmandu valley regarding unwise use of ECP by the adolescents and the risk of an increase in unsafe sex, which is evident from the proportion (65.2%) of CPPs consenting to the statement that ECP without prescription will promote unsafe sex. This nding was in line with the study conducted in South Africa in which the majority stated that the use of pills promoted promiscuity, repeat use and increased risk of contracting HIV and other STIs [35], but is contrary to the ndings of Apikoglu-Rabus et al where 52% of the pharmacists believed that teenagers are fully capable of taking responsibility for ECP use [30].…”

Section: Attitude Of the Respondents Towards Ecpsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Majority of the respondents (94.3%) believed that ECP should be a part of comprehensive sexuality education in schools. This data was higher than the study carried out in Turkey, in which only 73.1% of the respondents agreed with the above statement [30]. A course focused on emergency contraceptives and its' public health bene ts can be incorporated in the pharmacy education that could enable pharmacists to offer adequate counseling services to women seeking emergency contraception.…”

Section: Attitude Of the Respondents Towards Ecpmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…Medicalization of ECP might pose a huge challenge for women seeking emergency contraception due to the obligation of obtaining an appointment from the doctor within the time-frame of 72 hours. Hence, the community pharmacy serves as an important facility that offers prompt access to most women seeking ECP within the crucial time-frame, thus safeguarding them from the risk of unintended pregnancies or abortions [30]. This ultimately depends on the community pharmacy dispenser's attitude and acceptance regarding the use of emergency contraceptives [29].…”

Section: Attitude Of the Respondents Towards Ecpmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Emergency Contraceptive Pills among Community Pharmacy Practitioners working in Kathmandu Valley: A cross-sectional study

Shakya

Shrestha

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background Unintended pregnancy occurs due to incorrect or inconsistent use of a contraception method. Such pregnancies can create an economic burden on the family, society and nation as a whole. Unintended pregnancy is the underlying cause of abortion which can also result in infertility and maternal death. Adequate knowledge of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) and positive attitudes among the community pharmacy practitioners (CPPs) is a prerequisite for timely access of ECP, thus ultimately lessening the incidence of unintended pregnancies. This study intended to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice of CPPs toward ECPs in Kathmandu valley. Methods Cross-sectional study conducted in community pharmacies located in three districts of Kathmandu valley. A convenience sampling method was employed to interview CPPs in 227 community pharmacies using a validated questionnaire. Questionnaire assessed the demographic characteristics; knowledge, attitude and dispensing practice of the CPPs. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential analysis using SPSS 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results Approximately 74.9% of respondents had a good practice on dispensing ECPs, and 70% of them counselled all the users. A significant association (p-value<0.05) was obtained between the dispensing practice of respondents and their knowledge level. ECP related knowledge was higher among the age group 40-49 years, BPharm degree holders with experience above ten years and community pharmacies located inside the city and in the Kathmandu district. After adjusting the possible confounder variables, age, degree and district of pharmacy were significantly associated with knowledge. Similarly, respondents' practice towards ECP was higher among the age group 40-49 years with experience above ten years and community pharmacies located inside the city and in the Kathmandu district. Adjusted for other variables, only community pharmacies located at Kathmandu district was significantly associated with the practice. Conclusion CPPs lacked specific important information on ECP and opined against its' availability as an OTC drug, despite good overall knowledge and positive attitude. Many thought that ECP without prescription would increase promiscuity towards sexual behaviour and result in unsafe sex along with its' repeated use. Hence, training and proper counselling strategies should be afoot to refine the delivery of service by CPPs.

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Section: Attitude Of the Respondents Towards Ecpsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Attitude Of the Respondents Towards Ecpmentioning

confidence: 59%

Section: Attitude Of the Respondents Towards Ecpmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Emergency Contraceptive Pills among Community Pharmacy Practitioners working in Kathmandu Valley: A cross-sectional study

Shakya

Shrestha

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…Due to this change in the regulatory status (OTCswitch), community pharmacists are responsible to ensure that women use oral EC appropriately [5][6][7][8]. In 2016, the German Federal Chamber of Pharmacists (BAK) developed recommendations, a protocol for consultation, and a continuing education program for pharmacists to ensure a positive benefit/risk balance when dispensing oral EC without a prescription in German community pharmacies (CPs) [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in dispensing oral emergency contraceptives and safety issues: a survey of German community pharmacists

et al. 2019

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Background Oral emergency contraceptives containing levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate are available without prescription and only in pharmacies in Germany since March 2015. Due to this change community pharmacists are responsible for evaluating whether the product is appropriate and to educate women on proper use. Objective To measure the utilization of emergency contraceptives without a prescription and describe potential concerns and safety issues identified by community pharmacists in Germany. Setting The Drug Commission of German Pharmacists' nationwide network of reference pharmacies which includes 860 community pharmacies. Methods Reference community pharmacies were asked to participate in the eleven-questions online survey. Respondents were asked to recall their experiences with oral emergency contraceptives in the past 3 months. Data were collected between January 8 and February 19, 2018. Main outcome measure The survey focused on the utilization of emergency contraceptives without a prescription in Germany, and on the pharmacists' experiences with (potential) problems and concerns regarding safe use. Results In total, 555 community pharmacies (64.5%) participated. Overall 38.2% of community pharmacists stated they dispensed six to ten courses of emergency contraceptives within the past 3 months. In addition, 54.3% of the pharmacists estimated they dispensed emergency contraceptives exclusively without prescription and 35.9% dispensed more than 30% of emergency contraceptives during night-time and emergency services. Moreover, 82.8% of pharmacists stated that emergency contraceptives were requested not by the women concerned but a third person and 44.3% identified uncertainties in woman's self-diagnosis. Three out of four pharmacists had concerns about the effective and safe use of emergency contraceptives. In situations suggesting sexually transmitted diseases, or suspicion for use of force, 59.5% and 55.8% of the pharmacists, respectively, dispensed emergency contraceptives. In cases of acute health impairment or chronic disease, or (potentially) relevant drug/drug interaction, the vast majority (91.0% and 90.5%) did not. Here, most pharmacists referred to gynecologists. Conclusion Pharmacists had safety concerns when dispensing emergency contraceptives. Professional expertise in evaluating the need for oral emergency contraceptives and the proper use is needed.

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“…Because of cultural influences in Turkey, certain male pharmacists did not feel comfortable when offering advice on emergency contraception. Pharmacists in this research were generally against dispensing emergency contraception with a prescription only, while 58% felt that the dispensing of emergency contraception should be limited only to persons over 18 years of age (28). According to the results of research conducted among 523 pharmacists in New Mexico in 2004, the main challenges that pharmacists had to overcome in their practice when dispensing emergency contraception were: the lack of insight into the patient medical history, no follow-up on efficacy of emergency contraception, lack of time and lack of a private space for counseling.…”

Section: K N O W L E D G E a T T I T U D E S A N D P R A C T I C E mentioning

confidence: 88%

Mechanism of Action, Efficacy and Safety of Emergency Hormonal Contraception (levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate) and Attitudes of Pharmacists

Milosavljevic¹,

Ilić²,

Krajnović³

2014

Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis

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ACTA FACULTATIS MEDICAE NAISSENSISUDC: 615.256.5.03 S U M M A R YEmergency hormonal contraception is used to prevent unintended pregnancy postcoitally. The mechanism of action of the most frequently used hormonal preparations for emergency contraception, levonorgestrel (LNG) and ulipristal acetate (UPA), is still not fully known, but clinical trials indicate that they act by inhibiting or delaying ovulation. LNG has a long history of use for emergency contraception, proven safety and high efficacy if administered in the preovulation period. The newest emergency contraceptive, UPA, available only with a prescription, is indicated within this period of 120 hours after sexual intercourse and the data indicate that UPA does not lose efficacy within this period. Clinical trials showed its noninferiority versus LNG and its effect on the potentially occurring pregnancy is being additionally monitored. However, many misconceptions and controversial opinions about emergency contraception are still present, even among pharmacists. A search of Medline database identified 20 papers published from January 1993 to December 2012, on pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes and practices related to emergency contraception. In these papers, the attitudes of pharmacists pertaining to the dispensing regime of emergency contraception were different. Research in Australia has shown that personal attitudes and religious convictions influence the practice of dispensing emergency contraception. In the research conducted in New Mexico, 30% of pharmacists were against prescribing emergency contraception for religious or moral reasons. There were no published data in regards to pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes and dispensing practice in Serbia and such research is highly recommended.

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Turkish pharmacists’ counseling practices and attitudes regarding emergency contraceptive pills

Cited by 20 publications

References 22 publications

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Emergency Contraceptive Pills among Community Pharmacy Practitioners working in Kathmandu Valley: A cross-sectional study

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Emergency Contraceptive Pills among Community Pharmacy Practitioners working in Kathmandu Valley: A cross-sectional study

Trends in dispensing oral emergency contraceptives and safety issues: a survey of German community pharmacists

Mechanism of Action, Efficacy and Safety of Emergency Hormonal Contraception (levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate) and Attitudes of Pharmacists

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