املعارف واملواقف واملامرسات لدى الصيادلة والعاملني يف الرعاية الصحية حول االستخدام السليم ملانعات احلمل الفموية واآلثار اجلانبية وموانع االستعامل

املجلة الصحية لرشق املتوسط املجلد التاسع عرش العدد السادس Knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacists and health-care workers regarding oral contraceptives correct usage, side-effects and contraindications M. Sattari, 1 Z. Mokhtari, 2 H. Jabari 3 and S.O. Mashayekhi 4 املعارف واملواقف واملامرسات لدى الصيادلة والعاملني يف الرعاية الصحية حول االستخدام السليم ملانعات احلمل الفموية واآلثار اجلانبية وموانع االستعامل حممد رضا ستاري زينب خمتاري حسني جباري سيمني عذار مشاخيي اخلالصة: الرغم من النجاح الذي حققه الربنامج اإليراين لتنظيم األرسة فإن عدد األمحال غري املرغوبة اليزال مرتفعا. وهيدف الباحثون للتعر ف عىل ما إذا كان العاملون الصحيون يف تربيز يقدمون املعلومات واملشورة الصحيحة حول استخدام مانعات احلمل الفموية. وهتدف هذه الدراسة للتعر ف عىل مستوى املعارف واملواقف واملامرسات لدى من يقد م مانعات احلمل الفموية. وشملت العينة 150 عامال صحيا يف البيوت الصحية و 150 صيدليا يف املجتمع أو يف املستشفى فأجابوا عىل استبيان حول املعارف عن االستخدام الصحيح ملوانع احلمل الفموية وآثارها اجلانبية وموانع االستعامل وعالمات وأعراض اخلطر وفوائدها غري املانعة للحمل وما إذا كانوا يقد مون املشورة للمرىض حول هذه املواضيع. واتضح أن معارف الصيادلة والعاملني الصحيني مل تكن مرتفعة وأهنم كانوا يقد مون املشورة للمرىض يف الكثري من املواضيع حتى عندما كانوا يفتقدون املعلومات غري الصحيحة ويف جماالت أخرى مل يكونوا يقد مون املعلومات للمرىض عىل الرغم من أهنم يملكون املعلومات الصحيحة. وخلصت الدراسة إىل أن التثقيف الصحي املستمر للقائمني عىل تقديم موانع احلمل الفموية والسي ام للصيادلة أمر يبدو رضوريا. ABSTRACT Despite the success of the Iranian family planning programme, the number of unwanted pregnancies remains high. To investigate whether health workers in Tabriz are providing correct information and about OCP use, the current study was planned to examine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of OCP providers. A sample of 150 health-care workers in health houses and 150 community/hospital pharmacists answered a questionnaire about knowledge of correct use of OCP, side-effects, contraindications, danger signs/symptoms and non-contraceptive benefits, and whether they counselled patients about these subjects. Knowledge of pharmacists and health workers was not as high as expected and in many topics they were patients even when they had incorrect knowledge and in other areas they were not providing information to patients despite having the correct knowledge. Better continuing education for OCP providers and especially for pharmacists seems necessary. Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des pharmaciens et des agents de soins de santé concernant l'utilisation correcte des contraceptifs oraux, les effets secondaires et les contre-indications RÉSUMÉ Malgré le succès du programme de planification familiale iranien, le nombre de grossesses non désirées reste élevé. Pour savoir si les agents de soins de santé à Tabriz fournissaient des informations et des conseils adaptés sur l'utilisation des pilules contraceptives, la présente étude a été planifiée pour examiner le niveau de connaissances, les attitudes et les pratiques des personnes qui dispensent des pilules contraceptives. Un échantillon de 150 agents de soins de santé dans des maisons de santé et de 150 pharmaciens en milieu hospitalier ou communautaire ont répondu au questionnaire évaluant leurs connaissances sur l'utilisation correcte des pilules contraceptives, les effets secondaires, les contre-indications, les signes de danger/symptômes et les avantages non-contraceptifs, mais aussi sur l'offre ou non de conseils aux patientes en la matière. Les connaissances des pharmaciens et des agents de soins de santé n'étaient pas aussi bonnes qu'escomptées. De plus, sur de nombreux sujets, ils conseillaient les patientes même lorsqu'ils avaient des connaissances erronées et dans d'autres domaines, ils s'abstenaient de proposer des conseils malgré la justesse de leurs connaissances. Améliorer la formation continue des des personnes qui dispensent des pilules contraceptives, et particulièrement des pharmaciens, semble nécessaire. 1 Research Centre of Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran. 2 Students Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran. 3 Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran. 4 Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran (Correspondence to S. Mashayekhi: mashayekhis@yahoo.co.uk). Received: 07/02/12; accepted: 06/05/12 547

EMHJ Vol. 19 No. 6 2013 Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal La Revue de Santé de la Méditerranée orientale Introduction From a global perspective strategies are needed for controlling the rapid worldwide population growth of recent centuries [1,2], while from the individual perspective accurate and efficient methods are needed to prevent unwanted pregnancies and their adverse consequences [3]. Many factors play a role in the failure of contraception methods, including lack of knowledge about their use and side-effects. In order to provide users with useful information, health care providers need to be trained to transmit accurate and complete knowledge about contraception methods, and should be able to communicate adequately with users. According to an Iranian Ministry of Health report, the fertility rate in the Islamic Republic of Iran has decreased from 5.6 births/ woman in 1985 [4] to 1.8 births/women in 2009 [5]. This can be attributed to the Iranian family planning programme that was proposed in December 1989 and which provides free contraceptives to families via the primary health care delivery system [6]. Despite the success of this programme the number of unwanted pregnancies remains high [7], raising questions about women s compliance with contraceptive use. Oral contraceptives pills (OCP) are one of the most effective reversible methods of preventing unwanted pregnancies. In the Islamic Republic of Iran women can obtain OCP from 2 sources: government-run health houses or community/hospital pharmacies. In the health houses health-care workers (HCW), who include midwives and family/public health educators, provide birth control methods (e.g. OCP and condoms) to families and educate them about their use. They provide a limited range of low-cost generic OCP free-ofcharge to users. OCP are also dispensed by pharmacists in community or hospital outpatient pharmacies. In addition to the cheaper OCP pharmacies also sell the more expensive brand-name OCP. The aim of the current study was to examine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacists and HCW who provide OCP to users in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Methods Study setting and sample Data were collected between November 2009 and October 2010 in Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran. All pharmacists and HCW working in Tabriz at the time of the study were invited to enter the study. The study was conducted during obligatory continuing medical education courses for pharmacists or monthly meetings for HCW. A total of 150 pharmacists and 150 HCW participated in the study Data collection The aims of the study were explained to the subjects and after obtaining written consent, they completed a questionnaire. A researcher was present at the time of completion of the questionnaires to answer any questions. The subjects were free to withdraw from the study at any time. All efforts were made to protect the participant s rights and confidentiality. The questionnaire was adopted from Gaudet et al. s research [8] and translated into Farsi language with a few changes. The final questionnaire comprised 34 items including 6 about demographic data, and the validity and reliability of the questions were tested on 50 subjects prior to the study (Cronbach α = 0.88). The questions were divided into the following sections: demographic information (age, sex, years of experience, education level); general knowledge about OCP (which OCP they provided/sold; reasons for recommending OCP; maximum duration for safe use of OCP; users health history prior to initiation of OCP; recommended checkups for users of OCP); and knowledge and about OCP use (how to initiate OCP and what to do about missed pills; non-contraceptive benefits of OCP; side-effects of OCP; controversies/myths regarding OCP; and serious dangers/risks of OCP). In the knowledge and section, respondents were asked to answer each knowledge topic (scored as correct, incorrect or no response) and whether they counselled patients about that topic (scored yes/no). The different types of OCP available on the Iranian market are: high-dose generic monophasics (50 µg ethinyl estradiol/0.5 mg norgestrel), low-dose generic monophasics (30 µg ethinyl estradiol/0.3 mg norgestrel), generic triphasics, levonorgestrel (breast-feeding OCP), Marvelon (30 µg ethinyl estradiol/150 µg desogestrel), Desoceptive (30 µg ethinyl estradiol/150 µg desogestrel), Yasmin (30 µg ethinyl estradiol/3 mg drospirenone), and cyproterone compound (35 µg ethinyl estradiol/2 mg cyproterone acetate). Analysis The results are reported as mean and standard deviation (SD), number and percentages. Student t-test and chisquared tests were used for analysis of quantitative and qualitative variables respectively, utilizing SPSS, version 15. A significant level of P < 0.05 was adopted for all tests. Results Demographic information The mean age of the pharmacists was 37.9 (SD 9.6) (range 23 77) years and of HCW was 37.0 (SD 4.6) (range 26 50) years with no significant difference between the 2 groups (P = 0.32). There was a significant sex difference between the groups; 47.3% of pharmacists and 100% of HCW were female (P < 0.001). The average work experience of pharmacists was 13.0 (SD 8.9) (range 1 53) years while HCW had 9.3 (SD 548

املجلة الصحية لرشق املتوسط املجلد التاسع عرش العدد السادس 5.5) (1 24) years of work experience (P < 0.05). The education level in the pharmacists group was DPharm in all cases but was bachelor or associate degree for 65.3% and 34.7% respectively of HCW. General knowledge about OCP Contraceptive low-dose generic OCP were sold/provided to users by 98.7% of both groups. In the pharmacists group the next most commonly sold formulations were high-dose generic OCP (91.3%), levonorgestrel (80.0%), triphasics (73.3%), Marvelon (65.3%), Yasmin (60.7%), Desoceptive (58.7%) and cyproterone compound (58.7%). For the HCW group the next most common formulations provided were levonorgestrel (96.0%), triphasics (91.3%), high-dose generics (58.0%) and Marvelon, Yasmin, Desoceptive and cyproterone compound (all < 10%). The main reasons for recommendation of OCP reported by both groups was effectiveness (92.0% and 86.7% for HCW and pharmacists respectively). Other important reasons given by pharmacists were low price (64.0%), ease of use (63.3%), ease of availability (64.0%) and reversibility (62.7%). Other reasons given by HCW were ease of use (79.3%), ease of availability (72.0%), independence from husbands (61.3%), reversibility (58.8%) and low price (53.3%). The average maximum duration that pharmacists recommended for safe use of OCP was 43.3 (SD 30.0) months (range 6 120 months) while this was 45.4 (SD 32.1) months (range 3 180 months) according to HCW (P < 0.05). Pharmacists reported that they provided OCP mainly on prescription from clinicians (50.7%), while HCW themselves generally prescribed and provided OCP to users (76.7%). Knowledge about initiation and use of OCP The most common time for tablettaking recommended by both groups was night-time before sleeping (95.2% and 85.3% for HCW and pharmacists respectively). The opinions of pharmacists and HCW regarding the necessary questions to ask users about their health history before initiating OCP are shown in Table 1. Significantly more pharmacists recommended enquiring about users history of diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy, coagulation diseases, past breast cancer, migraine, gallbladder disease and depression and about surgery in the near future (P < 0.001). Significantly more HCW recommended enquiring about history of uterus infections and liver disease (P < 0.001). Around 85% of both groups knew the correct initiation method of OCP (P > 0.05) but only 72.7% and 47.3% of HCW and pharmacists respectively gave this information to the users (Table 2). About half of HCW and one-third of pharmacists knew what action users should take if they forgot to take 1 tablet of low- or high-dose monophasic OCPs but fewer knew what users should do about 2 or more missed pills (33.3% and 31.9%, respectively, P > 0.05). Despite this obvious lack of knowledge, the proportions giving were fairly high (72.0% versus 50.7% respectively). Only 65.7% and 54.0% of HCW and pharmacists knew the correct action for 1 missed triphasic pill but much fewer knew what users should do about 2 missed triphasic pills (20.1% Table 1 Pharmacists and health-care workers (HCW) knowledge about which health problems to enquire about prior to initiation of oral contraceptive pills Health problems % agreeing it is important to ask about problem P-value HCW (n = 150) Pharmacists (n = 150) Diabetes 45.3 71.3 < 0.001 Hypertension 76.0 95.3 < 0.001 Seizures or epilepsy 45.3 85.3 < 0.001 Coagulation disease 71.3 95.3 < 0.001 Breast cancer (past) 64.0 85.3 < 0.001 Breast cancer (current) 70.7 78.7 0.11 Family history of breast cancer 54.7 68.0 0.02 Endocervical cancer 36.0 28.0 0.13 Uterus infection 86.0 65.3 < 0.001 Migraine headache 71.3 96.7 < 0.001 Surgery in near future 22.7 64.0 < 0.001 Gallbladder disease 22.4 65.3 < 0.001 Depression 47.3 71.3 < 0.001 Liver disease 87.3 53.3 < 0.001 549

EMHJ Vol. 19 No. 6 2013 Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal La Revue de Santé de la Méditerranée orientale Table 2 Pharmacists and health-care workers (HCW) knowledge and practice of about different topics concerning oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use and side-effects Knowledge item HCW (n = 150) Pharmacists (n = 150) Start OCP from 5th day of period and take 1 each day, 1 week gap, start a new pack % Instructions for initiating and use of OCP P-value a % P-value a < 0.001 0.006 Correct 85.4 72.7 84.0 47.3 Incorrect 14.7 2.7 12.0 2.7 No response 0.0 0.0 4.0 0.7 If user forgets to take 1: monophasic OCP, she should take 0.485 0.490 Correct 71.3 49.3 1 tablet 45.3 92.0 2 tablets 33.3 31.9 > 2 tablets 20.0 33.3 Incorrect 1.4 0.7 4.0 0.7 No response 0.0 0.0 4.0 0.7 If user forgets to take 1: triphasic OCP, she should take 2 tablets, if less than 12 h 0.149 0.072 Correct 65.3 48.0 54.0 20.0 Incorrect 34.0 20.0 40.0 15.3 No response 0.7 0.7 6.0 0.0 Non-contraceptive benefits of OCP OCP should make periods lighter 0.313 0.414 Correct 94.7 60.7 74.0 17.3 Incorrect 3.3 1.3 24.7 4.0 No response 2.0 0.7 1.4 0.7 OCP should make periods less painful 0.021 0.247 Correct 93.4 62.7 72.0 21.3 Incorrect 4.0 2.7 25.3 4.0 No response 2.7 0.0 2.7 0.7 OCP and acne: continue tablet use and no need to visit doctor 0.220 0.097 Correct 60 29.3 66.0 22.7 Incorrect 33.3 15.3 33.3 7.3 No response 6.6 1.3 0.7 0.7 Use of OCP with certain other medications causes problems Potential problems of OCP 0.396 0.405 Correct 88.0 60.0 89.4 30.7 Incorrect 10.0 6.0 6.0 3.3 No response 2.0 2.0 4.6 1.3 If user does not have period after end of pack: start next pack on time and visit a doctor 0.523 0.167 Correct 50.7 36.0 50.0 12.0 Incorrect 49.4 32.7 46.0 6.7 No response 0.0 0.0 4.0 0.0 550

املجلة الصحية لرشق املتوسط املجلد التاسع عرش العدد السادس Table 2 Pharmacists and health-care workers (HCW) knowledge and practice of about different topics concerning oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use and side-effects (continued) Knowledge item HCW (n = 150) Pharmacists (n = 150) If user feels pain in thigh or calf: visit a doctor % P-value a % P-value a 0.872 0.363 Correct 82.0 54.0 81.4 16.7 Incorrect 16.6 11.3 13.4 2.7 No response 1.4 0.7 5.3 0.0 If user feels severe headache: take a pain killer and visit a doctor 0.013 0.774 Correct 56.6 33.3 62.0 10.7 Incorrect 42.0 32.0 30.7 4.7 No response 1.3 0.0 7.4 0.7 If user gets break-through bleeding: continue OCP and visit a doctor OCP side-effects 0.059 0.061 Correct 52.7 38.0 62.0 11.3 Incorrect 46.0 28.7 31.3 4.0 No response 1.3 0.0 6.7 0.7 If user feels breast tenderness: continue OCP and visit a doctor 0.004 0.077 Correct 42.7 30.7 48.0 10.7 Incorrect 55.3 28.0 42.0 4.0 No response 2.0 0.0 10.0 0.7 If user has nausea/vomiting: take OCP with food/with antiemetic/another time 0.001 0.019 Correct (at least 1 correct answer) 79.7 63.4 38.6 21.3 Incorrect 17.4 6.7 56.7 20.0 No response 2.0 0.0 4.7 0.7 OCP user s weight stays constant over time Controversies/ myths regarding OCP 0.590 0.387 Correct 81.4 56.7 76.7 18.0 Incorrect 16.0 12.0 20.6 3.3 No response 2.6 1.3 2.7 0.0 Users chances of having children is unaffected by OCP use 0.366 0.943 Correct 82.0 56.7 60.7 12.7 Incorrect 14.6 9.3 36.0 6.7 No response 3.3 1.3 3.4 0.7 OCP use causes dry mouth 0.067 0.462 Correct 32.6 19.3 42.0 8.0 Incorrect 58.6 31.3 48.7 6.7 No response 8.7 2.0 9.4 0.7 Health risks of OCP Smoking increases OCP risks 0.324 0.143 Correct 86.0 54.7 70.0 10.7 Incorrect 10.0 6.0 20.0 1.3 No response 4.0 1.3 10.0 0.0 551

EMHJ Vol. 19 No. 6 2013 Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal La Revue de Santé de la Méditerranée orientale Table 2 Pharmacists and health-care workers (HCW) knowledge and practice of about different topics concerning oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use and side-effects (concluded) Knowledge item HCW (n = 150) Pharmacists (n = 150) OCP decreases breast cancer and ovarian cancer risks % P-value a % P-value a 0.523 0.701 Correct 41.3 26.0 30.0 6.0 Incorrect 54.0 30.7 58.0 10.0 No response 4.7 2.0 12.0 1.3 OCP increases endocervical cancer risk < 0.001 0.049 Correct 67.3 43.3 48.7 10.7 Incorrect 30.0 8.7 40.0 3.3 No response 2.7 0.0 11.4 0.7 a Comparing total number to item versus number giving about item. and 16.3%). Despite this lack of knowledge 68.7% and 35.3% of HCW and pharmacists respectively gave advice to the users. Knowledge about noncontraceptive benefits of OCP Pharmacists and HCWs knowledge regarding the non-contraceptive benefits of OCP was determined by 3 questions (Table 2). While only 74.0% of pharmacists knew OCP could reduce bleeding during monthly periods, this was known by 94.7% of HCW (P < 0.001). Advising users about this information was done by HCW more than pharmacists (62.7% versus 22.0%). About 93.4% of HCW knew that OCPs could reduce menstrual pain but only 65.4% advised users about this topic. For pharmacists knowledge about this subject was 72.0% and providing was 26.0%. About 60% of both groups knew that appearance of new acne was not OCPrelated or even serious and did not require a visit to a physician (P < 0.05). The proportions who gave advice were reasonably high (45.9% and 30.7% for HCW and pharmacists respectively). Knowledge about potential problems with OCP Almost 90% of both groups knew that drug drug interaction with OCP could occur with some but not all medications (Table 2). However, only 35.3% of pharmacists provided information to users about this issue. The level of advice by HCW was twice as high (P < 0.05). Only half of HCW and pharmacists knew that when there was no menstrual bleeding at the end of a pack of OCP it was necessary to start a new pack and also to visit a doctor but 36.7% and 20.1% of HCW and pharmacists respectively recommended starting a new pack and not visiting a doctor, while 12.0% and 24.3% of HCW and pharmacists recommended stopping tablets altogether. About 80% of both groups knew that visiting a doctor was necessary when there if users had pain or oedema in the thigh or calf and 19.4% and 66.0% respectively of pharmacists and HCW said that they provided this information to users (P < 0.05). In case of severe headaches, 56.6% and 62.0% of HCW and pharmacists respectively thought that users should take pain killers and visit their doctor (P < 0.05) while only 37.8% and 20.1% of HCW and pharmacists knew that OCP should be discontinued. Despite this lack of knowledge, 65.3% and 16.1% of HCW and pharmacists said they would provide advice to users. Knowledge about OCP sideeffects A majority of HCW and pharmacists (52.7% and 62.0% respectively) knew that breakthrough bleeding could occur during OCP use and also that users should continue tablet-taking and visit a physician if the problem persisted (P < 0.01) (Table 3); 32.0% and 17.1% of HCW and pharmacists thought there was no need for a physician s visit and 14.0% of HCW and 16.2% of pharmacists believed that OCP should be stopped immediately. Pharmacists knew that taking the tablets with food (28.0%) or with an antiemetic (21.0%) or at a different time of day (30.0%) could diminish OCP induced nausea and vomiting and only 4.0% recommended discontinuation of these medications and a physician visit. HCWs knew that taking the tablets with food (39.3%) or with an antiemetic (56.0%) or at a different time of day (6.0%) could diminish OCP induced nausea and vomiting and but only 10.7% said users should see a physician, while 70.1% of HCW and 42.0% of pharmacists said they provided users with this information.. Of the HCW and pharmacists 42.7% and 48.0% respectively correctly believed that breast tenderness did not need a physician visit or discontinuation 552

املجلة الصحية لرشق املتوسط املجلد التاسع عرش العدد السادس Table 3 Pharmacists and health care workers (HCW) knowledge about recommendations for regular check-ups for users of oral contraceptive pills Health check-ups of OCP. Although about 50% of the respondents in both groups believed users should visit a physician and about 17.0% believed they should stop taking tablets, 66.7% and 16.0% HCW and pharmacists respectively gave information about this side-effect to users (P < 0.001). Knowledge about other recommendations during OCP use A great majority of HCW and pharmacists (89.6% and 70.0% respectively) knew that smoking could increase the risks associated with OCP but only 62.0% and 12.0% provided this information to users (P < 0.001) (Table 3). While 41.3% and 30.0% of HCW and pharmacists knew that OCP could reduce ovarian and uterine cancers respectively, almost 40% of both group wrongly believed OCP could increase the risk of these cancers. Despite this lack of knowledge 58.7% of HCW said they provided users with information on these subjects. In the case of endocervical cancer, 67.3% of the respondents in HCWs group and 48.7% of pharmacists knew that OCP could increase the risk but still in HCWs and pharmacists groups, 15.1% and 30.1% thought a decreased chance of breast cancer could occur by OCP use. The rate of about this issue among the HCW % agreeing it is necessary to perform check-up HCW (n = 150) Pharmacists (n = 150) and pharmacists was 52.0% and 14.7% respectively. The percentages of HCW and pharmacists who recommended physical examination of various organs for patients taking OCP are shown in Table 3. Significantly more HCW than pharmacists recommended regular checkups for heart and lung function, hypertension, weight, cervical smear, varicose veins, coagulation problems, lipid profile and thyroid profile. Knowledge about controversies or myths concerning OCP P-value Heart and lung function 88.0 26.0 < 0.001 Hypertension 97.3 68.0 < 0.001 Breast examination 97.3 86.7 0.001 Weight 92.7 45.3 < 0.001 Cervical smear test 84.7 47.7 0.03 Varicose veins 87.3 47.3 < 0.001 Coagulation problems 89.3 77.3 0.01 Lipid profile 90.0 41.3 < 0.001 Thyroid problems 58.7 18.7 < 0.001 Although 76.7% of pharmacists and 81.4% of HCW believed that OCP could increase users body weight only about 15% of both groups believed it did not cause any weight changes and < 3% of the respondents thought it could decrease weight; 70.0% and 21.3% of HCW and pharmacists gave information regarding possible changes in body weight to users (Table 2). Whereas 82.0% and 60.7% of HCW and pharmacists believed that OCP use did not have an effect on a woman s future child-bearing (P < 0.001), 9.0% and 17.9% thought it would reduce the possibility of having children in the future; 67.3% and 20.1% of HCW and pharmacists counselled users about this subject (P < 0.001). On the issue of dry mouth 32.6% and 42.0% of HCW and pharmacists believed that dry mouth caused by OCP was not an indication for drug discontinuation and could be solved by drinking extra water. Interestingly 52.6% and 15.4% of HCW and pharmacists said they had provided users with this untrue information. Discussion This study compared 2 groups of professionals: HCW, who were midwives and family/public health educators, and pharmacists engaged in community or hospital outpatient pharmacies. As shown in the results there were differences between these groups in the level and type of education, but there are also differences in the type and frequency of continuing education, type of clientele and responsibilities, types and prices of OCP dispensed and level of workload. HCW receive training for family planning in nursing and midwifery schools and also have monthly classes to update their information. Pharmacists are trained in schools of pharmacies and have continuing medical education after graduation, which rarely covers OCP-related topics. These could affect providers knowledge and advice to users as seen from the results of this study. The study highlighted 2 problems; one was the lack of or low level of knowledge about OCP and the other was the low level of of OCP users. When there is insufficient knowledge among providers, users will not receive information on how to use OCP, what to do when a problem occurs or which signs they should be looking out for. In the case of pharmacists, we saw a lower level of knowledge in many areas of OCP usage, side-effects, signs of problem and contraindications than for HCW. There were also areas of poor knowledge among the HCW but these were less concerning than in the pharmacists group. In other words, HCW 553

EMHJ Vol. 19 No. 6 2013 Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal La Revue de Santé de la Méditerranée orientale had a higher level of knowledge compared with pharmacists. Furthermore, HCW were more often providing to users compared with the pharmacists. Nevertheless, not all knowledge resulted in, which shows deficiencies in communication with OCP users. This might be as a result of lack of communication skills due to lack of training [9,10], an unsuitable environment for and a high number of clientele or responsibilities. Similar results were observed in previous studies in which pregnant women in Islamic Republic of Iran reported obtaining information from HCW rather than pharmacists [11 13]. When occurs with appropriate knowledge, it is useful for users and could improve the efficacy of OCP use, but serious problems could occur when the health care providers are about areas where their knowledge is poor. This means users could receive information that is incorrect and potentially dangerous. By offering further education and training for providers of OCP, and improving providers knowledge, the value of the offered will improve. Health professionals including pharmacists need better training in communication and for patients. Improved techniques, combined with a better knowledge level about OCP use, side-effects and lifethreatening problems, could improve patients compliance with OCP use and hence reduce the problem of unwanted pregnancies. Acknowledgements The present study is the output of the PharmD thesis of Dr Zeynab Mokhtari (thesis No 3532, registered in Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences). Competing interests: None declared. References 1. Nielsen R. The little green handbook: seven trends shaping the future of our planet. New York, Picador, 2006. 2. Lutz W, Sanderson W, Scherbov S. Doubling of world population unlikely. Nature, 1997, 387:803 805. 3. Moos MK, Bartholomew NE, Lohr KN. Counseling in the clinical setting to prevent unintended pregnancy: an evidencebased research agenda. Contraception, 2003, 67:115 132. 4. Vakilian K, Mirzaii K, NajmAbadi. Reproductive health in iran: international conference on population and development goals. Oman Medical Journal, 2011, 26:143 147. 5. Islamic Republic of Iran: country profile. World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean [online database] (http://rho.emro.who.int/rhodata/?theme=countr y&vid=10600 /, accessed 3 April 2013). 6. Aghajanian A, Mehryar AH. Fertility transition in the Islamic Republic of Iran: 1976 1996. Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 1999, 14:21 42. 7. Unwanted pregnancy rate drops in Iran. News number: 8704311063.21 July 2008. Fars News Agency [online] (http:// english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8704311063, accessed 3 April 2013). 8. Gaudet LM et al. What women believe about oral contraceptives and the effect of counseling. Contraception, 2004, 69:31 36. 9. Hargie OD, Morrow NC, Woodman C. Pharmacists evaluation of key communication skills in practice. Patient Education and Counseling, 2000, 39:61 70. 10. Greenhill N et al. Analysis of pharmacist patient communication using the Calgary Cambridge guide. Patient Education and Counseling, 2011, 83:423 431. 11. Mashayekhi SO et al. Study of awareness among pregnant women of the effects of drugs on the fetus and mother in Iran. Health Policy, 2009, 91:89 93. 12. Mashayekhi SO et al. Beliefs and practices of Iranian pregnant mothers regarding vitamins and minerals. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2011, 17:203 207. 13. Mashayekhi SO, Dilmaghanizadeh M, Ghandforoush-Sattari M. A survey on the consumption, knowledge and attitude of pregnant women toward the effects of folic acid on pregnancy outcome in Iran. Iranian Journal of Child Neurology, 2011, 5:33 40. 554