Emergency contraception. General practitioner knowledge, attitudes and practices in new South Wales
Weisberg, E.; Fraser, I.S.; Carrick, S.E.; Wilde, F.M.
Medical Journal of Australia 162(3): 136-138
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-729X PMID: 7854225 Document Number: 448629
In New South Wales, Australia, 76 urban general practitioners (GPs) and 84 rural GPs completed a questionnaire designed to determine their knowledge, attitude, and prescribing practices concerning emergency contraception. Rural GPs were more likely to know about emergency contraception than urban GPs (95% vs. 78%). Yet urban GPs were more likely than rural GPs to receive many requests for emergency contraception (25% vs. 6%; p = 0.018) and to prescribe it often (26% vs. 6%; p = 0.009). Female GPs not only were more likely than male GPs to know about emergency contraception but also to prescribe it (22% vs. 12%; p = 0.009). 58% of urban GPs and 52% of rural GPs prescribed the Yuzpe regimen (100 mcg ethinyl estradiol + 500 mcg levonorgestrel within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse and repeated 12 hours later). The GPs (particularly rural GPs) varied greatly in the emergency contraception regimens prescribed. These prescribed variable regimens, other than the Yuzpe regimen, have not been adequately studied, however. 28% of urban GPs and 31% of rural GPs did not automatically provide information about emergency contraception. 16% of both groups always included emergency contraception in discussions about contraceptive options. 18% only provided this information on request. 60% of all GPs would provide information about emergency contraception as a back-up to barrier methods. These findings suggest the need for GPs and the public to become educated about emergency contraception. Pharmaceutical companies should provide a specific emergency contraceptive package so that regulators can approve it and that normal marketing can begin. Ideally, a prepackaged postcoital regimen should be available over-the-counter.