Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #101498

Marjorie R. Sable, DrPH, MSW¹, Lisa Schwartz, MSPH, MS¹, Patricia J. Kelly, PhD, MPH, RN², and Eleanor Lisbon, MD³. (1) School of Social Work, University of Missouri-Columbia, 726 Clark Hall, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, 573/882-0914, SableM@missouri.edu, (2) Department of Familly Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, (3) Department of Family Medicine, Kansas University Medical Center, Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160

We surveyed 97 physicians to assess how attitudes, knowledge and social influences were associated with their intention to prescribe emergency contraception (EC). Physicians were classified as high-middle-and low intenders based on a score of how likely they would be to prescribe EC in 5 scenarios. Using the Theory of Reasoned Action we assessed their beliefs about the likelihood of ten consequences of prescribing EC, their evaluations of these consequences as good or bad, their perceptions of what their peers or social referents thought they should do and their motivation to comply with these referents. High intenders were more likely than low intenders to believe that prescribing EC enhances a woman's reproductive options and reduces the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions. They were less likely than low intenders to believe that prescribing EC discourages consistent contraceptive use, takes too much time in the clinic, is inconvenient, encourages unprotected sex, poses health risks for patients, causes frequent use of EC, or causes an abortion. High intenders were more likely than low intenders to have positive evaluations for enhancing a woman's reproductive options and for reducing the number of unintended pregnancies. They had less negative evaluations than low intenders for causing frequent use of EC and causing an abortion. High intenders were more likely than low intenders to believe that their partners/colleagues, community physicians, and current medical standards encouraged them to prescribe EC. Both high and mid intenders were more likely to want to comply with current medical standards than low intenders.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session the participant will be able to

• Identify attitudes and factors that influence physicians' decisions regarding prescribing EC
• Recognize which factors differentiate those who intend to prescribe EC from those who do not
• Discuss ways to educate physicians to increase prescribing patterns

Keywords: Practice-Based Research, Contraceptives

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.