Knowledge and attitudes toward emergency contraception among pharmacy students and community pharmacists in Poland

Emergency contraception (EC) remains a contentious issue shaped by ethical, legal, and cultural factors. Pharmacists are often involved in counselling and dispensing EC, placing them at the intersection of ethical, legal, and professional responsibilities. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and predictors of EC-related opinions among community pharmacists and pharmacy students in Poland.

A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in 2025 among 157 pharmacists and 223 pharmacy students. It assessed EC knowledge and attitudes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, group comparisons, and logistic regression models to identify predictors of knowledge and attitudes.

Pharmacists scored higher on the Knowledge Index than students (p = 0.0035). Overall, 84.5% supported the use of EC, 92.6% opposed its legal prohibition, 40.2% favoured over-the-counter availability, and 40.8% supported minors' access without parental consent. Logistic regression showed that younger age and contraceptive experience predicted greater support for EC use, while higher religiosity decreased it. Pharmacy students were more supportive than pharmacists of EC use and minors' access without parental consent. Respondents with higher knowledge were more likely to support the inclusion of EC in national health policy and to acknowledge pharmacists' educational role.

While pharmacists demonstrated higher factual knowledge, students expressed more permissive attitudes toward EC access. Both groups showed knowledge gaps and uncertainty about legal frameworks. The findings highlight the need for clearer ethical and legal guidance in pharmacy education and practice concerning reproductive health services.