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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jacqueline Hart, PhD¹, Vicki Breitbart, MSW², Lindsay Schubiner², and Hannah Springer². (1) Research and Evaluation, Planned Parenthood of New York City, 26 Bleecker Street, New York, New York, NY 10012, 212-274-7211, jacqueline.hart@ppnyc.org, (2) Planned Parenthood New York City, 26 Bleeker St, New York, NY 10012

Despite high rates of unintended pregnancy, emergency contraception remains a little understood and underutilized method of pregnancy prevention. In order to contribute to lessening the incidence of unintended pregnancy through the use of emergency contraception Planned Parenthood of New York City (PPNYC), funded by the New York City Department of Health, investigated the attitudes and practices regarding women's reproductive health care, and specifically emergency contraception, among pediatricians, family practitioners, and internists in New York City (Central Brooklyn, East Harlem, South Bronx).

Aim: To report on physician attitudes and practices regarding emergency contraception.

Methods: A total sample of approximately 45 physicians will be interviewed. In 2005 a pilot sample of 15 New York City Department of Health affiliated physicians were interviewed regarding their attitudes towards, understanding of, and practices regarding women's reproductive health care with a focus on emergency contraception. The study has been expanded and PPNYC is now in the process of adding approximately 30 more physicians to the sample. In the analysis of the pilot data we found that physician practice regarding EC seemed to be guided primarily by their own feelings of discomfort about EC and not clinical evidence for the appropriateness of EC in any given situation. There was a general lack of accurate knowledge concerning what exactly EC is and how it works. Most physicians are not proactive in their discussions of EC with patients, relying instead on patients to initiate the conversation (often due to a patient's immediate need for EC).

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Articulate attitudes towards emergency contraception among pediatricians, family practitioners, and internists in New York City.
• 2.Describe emergency contraception practices among pediatricians, family practitioners, and internists in New York City.
• 3.Identify the barriers to the utilization of emergency contraception among pediatricians, family practitioners, and internists in New York City.

Keywords: Contraception, Physicians

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered