THE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILL - A SURVEY OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES AMONG STUDENTS AT PRINCETON-UNIVERSITY

OBJECTIVE: Out purpose was to measure and analyze knowledge and attitu des about emergency contraceptive pills. The hypothesis we tested was that more accurate knowledge about the regimen would be associated Wit h favorable attitudes toward its use. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a ran dom sample telephone survey and a series of focus group discussions at Princeton University (results for 11 focus groups are presented elsew here) A total of 550 undergraduate and graduate students were selected randomly for participation in the survey, and the response rate was 8 2%. The study's primary outcome measure was attitudes toward the emerg ency contraceptive pill as a method of fertility control. We used mult ivariate regression analysis with ordered legit models to test the hyp othesized association between knowledge and attitudes. RESULTS: Basic awareness and approval of the emergency contraceptive pill were widesp read, yet students lacked detailed knowledge, which did contribute to health and ethical misgivings about the regimen. Students with accurat e information, especially those students who knew that the therapy is a large dose of regular oral contraceptives and that side effects are generally minor, were significantly more likely than others to report favorable attitudes. Many students confused the pills dispensed by the university health services (Ovral, Wyeth-Ayerst, Philadelphia) with t he abortifacient RU 486. Students noted discussion of the method is ra re, and many wanted to know more about it, Statistical results are rep orted with a 95% confidence level. CONCLUSIONS: Educational efforts sh ould offer specific information about the composition of emergency con traceptive pills, the side effects, and how tile regimen works.