Dataset Information

The attitudes of Korean physicians toward emergency contraceptive pills: regarding women's access and rescheduling.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study investigated the attitude of Korean physicians toward women's access to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) and the reclassification of ECP to a behind-the-counter (BTC) drug.

Methods

This study involved 946 physicians who had prescribed ECP in South Korea. The written questionnaires were completed by obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians, internal medicine doctors, and pediatricians.

Results

Regarding the barriers limiting women's access to ECP, 24.8% of physicians responded that women lacked information about ECP and 22.5% felt that women were likely to be emotionally burdened by visits to clinics or hospitals to obtain ECP prescriptions. Ninety-two percent of physicians responded that ECP should remain a prescription drug while 6.1% stated preferences for a switch to a BTC drug. Physicians who opposed the switch were concerned about the potential abuse of ECP. In order to prevent ECP abuse, the most important factor to be considered was education on contraception.

Conclusion

A majority of Korean physicians opposed the reclassification of ECP to a BTC drug owing to their belief in increasing the role of educational initiatives about contraception and contraceptive practices before improving the access to ECP. This study is also of the opinion that contraceptive education for youth and adults in Korea should be more realistic and active, with an emphasis on regular contraception use before reclassification. Furthermore, we believe that efforts are needed to ensure accuracy of information on contraception to facilitate women's access to ECP.

SUBMITTER: Lee ES

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6520542 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The attitudes of Korean physicians toward emergency contraceptive pills: regarding women's access and rescheduling.

Lee Eun Sil ES Lee Chong A CA Lee Jee Hee JH Park Bo Ra BR Lee Imsoon I

Obstetrics & gynecology science 20190425 3

<h4>Objective</h4>This study investigated the attitude of Korean physicians toward women's access to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) and the reclassification of ECP to a behind-the-counter (BTC) drug.<h4>Methods</h4>This study involved 946 physicians who had prescribed ECP in South Korea. The written questionnaires were completed by obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians, internal medicine doctors, and pediatricians.<h4>Results</h4>Regarding the barriers limiting women's access ...[more]

PMID: 31139593

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Dataset Information

The attitudes of Korean physicians toward emergency contraceptive pills: regarding women's access and rescheduling.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

The attitudes of Korean physicians toward emergency contraceptive pills: regarding women's access and rescheduling.

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