초록 열기/닫기 버튼
ObjectiveThis study investigated the attitude of Korean physicians toward women’s access to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs)and the reclassification of ECP to a behind-the-counter (BTC) drug. MethodsThis study involved 946 physicians who had prescribed ECP in South Korea. The written questionnaires werecompleted by obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians, internal medicine doctors, and pediatricians. ResultsRegarding the barriers limiting women’s access to ECP, 24.8% of physicians responded that women lacked informationabout ECP and 22.5% felt that women were likely to be emotionally burdened by visits to clinics or hospitals to obtainECP prescriptions. Ninety-two percent of physicians responded that ECP should remain a prescription drug while6.1% stated preferences for a switch to a BTC drug. Physicians who opposed the switch were concerned about thepotential abuse of ECP. In order to prevent ECP abuse, the most important factor to be considered was education oncontraception. ConclusionA majority of Korean physicians opposed the reclassification of ECP to a BTC drug owing to their belief in increasingthe role of educational initiatives about contraception and contraceptive practices before improving the access to ECP. This study is also of the opinion that contraceptive education for youth and adults in Korea should be more realisticand active, with an emphasis on regular contraception use before reclassification. Furthermore, we believe thatefforts are needed to ensure accuracy of information on contraception to facilitate women’s access to ECP.
