Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
06:59
A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
Student pharmacist knowledge and attitudes regarding oral emergency contraception
Emily Evans1, Mallika Patel, Derek Stranton
1Department of Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana, Monroe, Shreveport, LA 71103, USA. eevans@ulm.edu
Journal of the American Pharmacists Association : Japha
|November 23, 2007
Summary
Student pharmacists show improved knowledge and attitudes toward oral emergency contraceptives (OECs) when educated on the topic. Increased knowledge positively influences attitudes, highlighting the importance of OEC education in pharmacy curricula.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Education
- Reproductive Health
- Contraception
Background:
- Student pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes regarding oral emergency contraceptives (OECs) are not fully understood.
- Factors influencing these perceptions require identification to inform educational strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess student pharmacist knowledge and attitudes towards OECs.
- To identify factors impacting student pharmacists' understanding and views on OECs.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was administered to 752 student pharmacists in the U.S.
- The survey assessed knowledge, attitudes, and demographic information.
- Statistical analyses examined relationships between knowledge, attitudes, and demographic variables.
Main Results:
- Respondents correctly answered an average of 5.9 out of 9 knowledge items.
- Academic year, prior contraception course exposure, and specific OEC training influenced knowledge scores.
- Higher knowledge scores correlated with more favorable attitudes towards OECs (P = 0.05).
- Political beliefs and religious affiliation significantly impacted attitude scores (P < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Personal factors like religious affiliation and political views significantly shape student pharmacist attitudes toward OECs.
- Increased knowledge about OECs leads to greater support and fewer concerns among student pharmacists.
- Integrating OEC education into pharmacy school curricula is crucial for developing informed opinions.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Drug Delivery: Enteral Route
The enteral drug administration involves three primary routes: oral, sublingual, and buccal. Oral ingestion is the most prevalent, safe, economical, and convenient method for drug administration. However, it has certain drawbacks, including limited absorption due to the drug's low water solubility or poor membrane permeability, possible emesis from GI mucosa irritation, destruction of drugs by digestive enzymes or low gastric pH, and irregular absorption along with food or other drugs.
Drugs in...
Drugs in...
01:23Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Introduction
Oral drug delivery is the most common route of administration due to its convenience, cost-effectiveness, and high patient compliance. It enables precise formulation to ensure proper drug dosage and bioavailability. The development of oral dosage forms considers drug properties such as solubility, stability, and absorption to optimize therapeutic efficacy.Tablets, capsules, liquids, and chewable formulations enhance drug stability, mask undesirable tastes, and improve patient experience.
01:26Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
01:28IV Infusion to Oral Dosing: Conversion Methods
The development of extended-release formulations has facilitated the transition from intravenous to oral medication, offering a more convenient and patient-friendly approach to drug administration. This transition, however, requires careful management to ensure that therapeutic drug levels are maintained, preserving efficacy and avoiding adverse effects. Understanding pharmacokinetic principles and dosage calculations is critical during this process.Pharmacokinetics of the...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
01:24Factors Influencing Drug Absorption: Presystemic Elimination
The pharmacokinetic journey of oral drugs begins with a crucial first pass through the hepatic portal system, called the first-pass effect. This first pass significantly impacts bioavailability — the proportion of a drug that enters systemic circulation and is available for therapeutic action. The primary route sees the drug absorbed by intestinal membranes and then shunted to the liver via the hepatic portal vein. Here, pre-systemic elimination occurs as drugs face metabolism or biliary...