General practitioners and family planning in Sheffield

Summary A postal questionnaire was sent to one randomly selected half of the general practitioners on the Sheffield Executive Council list in April 1967 concerning the advice they give about family planning; 90% responded, and of these 78% suggest contraceptive measures on their own initiative. All the respondents either advise patients directly, refer them elsewhere, or both; 93% will on occasion advise the patient themselves, and 73% refer patients to the FPA. Of those who advise directly 92% prescribe the pill; 32 % of the respondents have had training in contraceptive methods. Doctors trained in Ireland were less likely to suggest contraception measures on their own initiative or to prescribe the pill, and more likely to prescribe the safe period than doctors trained elsewhere in the British Isles.