Evaluating community pharmacists awareness, perception and roles in providing emergency contraceptives in Jordan.

OBJECTIVE

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess Jordanian community pharmacists' awareness, perception, and roles concerning emergency contraceptives provision.

STUDY DESIGN

We administered a structured questionnaire to community pharmacists in Jordan using convenience sampling. The questionnaire included sections on demographic information, knowledge about emergency contraceptives, perception towards emergency contraceptive, and prior experience in emergency contraceptives provision.

RESULTS

A total of 299 community pharmacists responded to the study. Most pharmacists had a Pharm D/BPharm degree (94.6%) and worked in independent community pharmacies (75.6%). While pharmacists demonstrated relatively high knowledge scores regarding emergency contraception, with a median score of 10 out of 14, misconceptions persisted, particularly regarding the mechanism of action and side effects of emergency contraception. Pharmacists expressed mixed perceptions regarding emergency contraception, with a significant proportion advocating for prescription-only access (76.6%) and expressing ethical reservations (48.2%). Only 38.1% reported prior experience in emergency contraceptives provision. Regression analyses revealed that attendance at emergency contraceptives-focused workshops significantly increased the likelihood of pharmacists providing emergency contraceptives (Adjusted Odds Ratio=2.569, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Jordanian community pharmacists exhibit readiness to provide emergency contraceptives, but persistent misconceptions and regulatory barriers hinder optimal provision. Targeted educational interventions, particularly through workshops, are crucial in enhancing pharmacists' knowledge and promoting emergency contraceptives provision.

IMPLICATIONS

Responding pharmacists often reported the misconception that emergency contraceptives can cause abortion. Also, some pharmacists expressed religious or moral objections to prescribing oral emergency contraceptives. Thus, this study underscores the importance of receiving comprehensive training on ethical and religious considerations in healthcare practice.