Survey of Pharmacists and Undercover Patients, Madhya Pradesh, India, 2013: Special Licence Access

Two types of data collection were conducted: First, trained field researchers interviewed the person behind the counter of pharmacies in the state using a structured questionnaire on the pharmacist's background characteristics, the sales, stocks and price of medical abortion, and the pharmacist's knowledge of abortion.

Second, the actual quality of advice was observed using a mystery client methodology. One month after the interview of pharmacists, undercover patients presented themselves unannounced as a customer interested in purchasing a drug to induce an abortion. Within an hour of their visit the undercover patients met with their supervisor who used a structured questionnaire to note the advice given about dosage and directions of use of the drugs, potential side-effects, warning signs and the need to seek care, and post-abortion family planning.