The North Carolina DIAL EC project: increasing access to emergency contraceptive pills by telephone

To evaluate a telephone prescription service designed to increase access to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) in North Carolina.

Women who wanted ECPs called a toll-free number and were screened over the telephone. Prescriptions were faxed to pharmacies chosen by callers.

In 29 months, the service issued 9745 prescriptions to 7774 callers. Forty percent of callers were teens. Only 16% of callers received more than one prescription. Most callers heard about the service through referrals from Planned Parenthood staff and word-of-mouth.

This service was successful in providing prompt access to ECPs to women throughout the state. Frequent use of the service by individual women was uncommon. Callers preferred to obtain ECPs from local pharmacies rather than from Planned Parenthood health centers, despite generally higher prices at pharmacies.