Patient understanding and use of oral contraceptive pills in a southern public health family planning clinic
Davis, T.C.; Fredrickson, D.D.; Potter, L.; Brouillette, R.; Bocchini, A.C.; Williams, M.V.; Parker, R.M.
Southern Medical Journal 99(7): 713-718
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0038-4348 PMID: 16866052 Document Number: 236865
Objective: To assess patient understanding and use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and determine if these are associated with literacy.Methods: Four hundred OCP users from a southern public health family planning clinic were orally tested post visit for literacy, demographics, contraceptive knowledge, OCP use, side effects, and adherence.Results: Patients were predominately African American (86%); 78% had completed high school and 42% read below a 9th grade level. Most (94%) understood what to do when they missed one pill, yet few knew the correct action to take after missing two or three pills (19% and 3% respectively); 33% reported missing one or more pills in the past 2 weeks. Literacy was not associated with OCP use, knowledge, or adherence.Conclusion: Patients of all literacy levels had limited understanding of OCP side effects and what to do about multiple missed pills. This puts them at risk for misuse.