TY - JOUR
T1 - Patient understanding and use of oral contraceptive pills in a southern public health family planning clinic
AU - Davis, Terry C.
AU - Fredrickson, Doren D.
AU - Potter, Linda
AU - Brouillette, Rose
AU - Bocchini, Anna C.
AU - Williams, Mark V.
AU - Parker, Ruth M.
PY - 2006/7
Y1 - 2006/7
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To assess patient understanding and use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and determine if these are associated with literacy. METHODS: Four hundred OCP users from a southern public health family planning clinic were orally tested post visit for literacy, demographics, contraceptive knowledge, OCP use, side effects, and adherence. RESULTS: Patients were predominately African American (86%); 78% had completed high school and 42% read below a 9th grade level. Most (94%) understood what to do when they missed one pill, yet few knew the correct action to take after missing two or three pills (19% and 3% respectively); 33% reported missing one or more pills in the past 2 weeks. Literacy was not associated with OCP use, knowledge, or adherence. CONCLUSION: Patients of all literacy levels had limited understanding of OCP side effects and what to do about multiple missed pills. This puts them at risk for misuse.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To assess patient understanding and use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and determine if these are associated with literacy. METHODS: Four hundred OCP users from a southern public health family planning clinic were orally tested post visit for literacy, demographics, contraceptive knowledge, OCP use, side effects, and adherence. RESULTS: Patients were predominately African American (86%); 78% had completed high school and 42% read below a 9th grade level. Most (94%) understood what to do when they missed one pill, yet few knew the correct action to take after missing two or three pills (19% and 3% respectively); 33% reported missing one or more pills in the past 2 weeks. Literacy was not associated with OCP use, knowledge, or adherence. CONCLUSION: Patients of all literacy levels had limited understanding of OCP side effects and what to do about multiple missed pills. This puts them at risk for misuse.
KW - Health literacy
KW - Literacy
KW - Missed pills
KW - Oral contraceptive use
KW - Side effects
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U2 - 10.1097/01.smj.0000223734.77882.b2
DO - 10.1097/01.smj.0000223734.77882.b2
M3 - Article
C2 - 16866052
AN - SCOPUS:33745964619
SN - 0038-4348
VL - 99
SP - 713
EP - 718
JO - Southern Medical Journal
JF - Southern Medical Journal
IS - 7
ER -