Knowledge and counseling preferences of the public and pharmacy staff on emergency contraception: Results of a cross-sectional study in Belgium

Objective To assess the knowledge and counseling preferences of the public (‘individuals’) and pharmacy staff (‘professionals’) in Belgium on emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs). Study design Cross-sectional study using 2 different anonymous, online surveys (one addressing the public and one professionals). Results Overall, 1518 individuals and 1118 professionals participated, obtaining a mean knowledge score of 6.3(±1.8)/10 and 5.0(±1.6)/10, respectively. For the public, a lower level of knowledge was found among men, nonhealthcare workers, and low educated individuals with no prior ECP use/purchase. For professionals, a lower level of knowledge was observed among pharmacy-technicians, French-speaking persons, and professionals with ≥5 years of experience and poorly involved in continuous education. Conclusions Limited knowledge on ECPs was observed among the public and pharmacy staff in Belgium, underscoring educational and counseling opportunities on ECPs.