Community pharmacists providing emergency contraception give little advice about future contraceptive use: a mystery shopper study

Glasier, Anna; Manners, Rachel; Loudon, Joanna; Muir, A.

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2010.05.008

Cited by 40 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Since the introduction of free provision of EHC in 2008 there has been an increase in sales from community pharmacies; from <6000 sales/month in 2008 to>8000 sales/month in 2009 13 14. A range of factors such as accessibility, increased media coverage, anonymity, convenience and lack of need for prescription may make pharmacies and community reproductive health clinics preferred sources of EHC, compared with general practice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Provision of hormonal and long-acting reversible contraceptive services by general practices in Scotland, UK (2004–2009)

Watson

Hannaford

et al. 2013

J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care

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BackgroundIn the UK, a large proportion of contraceptive services are provided from general practice. However, little is known about which contraceptive services are provided and to whom. 4 The most recent change has been to provide levonorgestrel-containing emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) free of charge, without requiring a prescription and available over-the-counter from community pharmacies. This provision was introduced first in Scotland in 2008, and was followed by its introduction in Wales and selected pilot sites in England from April 2011 onwards.5 6 Before 2008, EHC was available without prescription but at a cost of approximately £22.00 (28 €), 7 which may have been a deterrent to its use.Currently, general practices, community reproductive health clinics and community pharmacies are the main sources of contraception in the UK. In addition to ensuring good access to contraception, it is important that a wide range of contraceptive methods is available. Reversible methods that rely least on user compliance are termed long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) and comprise intrauterine devices/systems (IUD/IUS), hormonal implants, and injectables. Despite their theoretical advantages, uptake and awareness of LARCs remains Key message points▸ General practice provides a large proportion of contraceptive services; little is known about which services are provided and to whom. ▸ With the exception of emergency hormonal contraception, provision of hormonal contraceptives and long-acting reversible contraceptives from general practices has increased over recent years. ▸ It is important that a full range of contraceptive options remains readily available to women. ARTICLEReddy A, et al.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Provision of hormonal and long-acting reversible contraceptive services by general practices in Scotland, UK (2004–2009)

Watson

Hannaford

et al. 2013

J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care

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“…Research has shown that pharmacists are good at supplying EC, and that women rate community pharmacy EC services highly 9 12. However, research has also identified that pharmacists are not particularly good at providing advice about ongoing contraception, and some women have expressed concerns about receiving advice in the pharmacy about future contraception 9 12 13.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Community pharmacists in the UK and most other industrialised countries are usually unable to provide any ongoing contraception except condoms, which are available for purchase. Two mystery shopper studies have shown that while pharmacists are good at adhering to protocols for providing EC, only a minority of them provide women with advice about ongoing contraception 8 9…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contraceptive use among women presenting to pharmacies for emergency contraception: an opportunity for intervention

Michie

Cameron

Glasier

et al. 2014

J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care

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Objectives Most women who use emergency contraception (EC) do so because of unprotected sexual intercourse or condom failure and so remain at risk of pregnancy unless they commence an effective method of contraception. In Great Britain, increasingly women now choose to obtain EC from a pharmacy; however, pharmacists do not currently provide effective ongoing contraception. We sought to determine the views of women obtaining EC from pharmacies and clinicians working in sexual and reproductive health care (SRH) about the possibility of pharmacists providing a temporary supply of a progestogen-only pill (POP) together with EC. Methods Self-administered, anonymous questionnaires of (1) women requesting EC from pharmacies in Edinburgh, Scotland and (2) SRH clinicians attending a major UK scientific meeting. Results A total of 211/232 women completed questionnaires in pharmacies (a 91% response rate). Of those women not using a hormonal method of contraception at the time of EC (n=166; 79%), almost half (44%) wished to use an effective method. Most women (64%) agreed that the option of a pharmacist being able to supply a POP would have been helpful. Among the SRH clinicians, 110 completed questionnaires out of 150 distributed (a 73% response rate). The majority of respondents (92%) were positive about a pharmacist supplying a POP at the time of EC. Conclusions A reasonable proportion of women requesting EC would like to start using an effective contraceptive method. Both the women and the SRH clinicians we surveyed are positive about the option of a short supply of a POP being provided by the pharmacy in the UK together with EC.

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“…In a study involving secret shoppers in the community setting, only 32.5% of all pharmacies discussed with patients the need for ongoing contraception use after emergency contraception use. 25 In a study involving New Mexico pharmacists' beliefs and attitudes towards emergency contraception, 88.1% of pharmacists Scores were based on a scale of 0-100, with 0 representing "not a barrier" and 100 representing "it's a definite barrier." b Students were not questioned about this barrier on the post-survey instrument because the active-learning exercise included an observation of emergency contraception counseling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active-Learning Instruction on Emergency Contraception Counseling

Young

Griffin

Vest

2013

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education

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Objective. To increase pharmacy students' knowledge of and confidence in counseling patients regarding emergency contraception and to identify any barriers to counseling patients about emergency contraception.Design. Approximately 200 third-year pharmacy students participated in the Women's Health Therapeutics workshop at Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy. Students observed a 5-minute skit of a counseling session on emergency contraception and then were asked to pair up with a classmate and practice counseling each other regarding the use of emergency contraception following a checklist of key points. Assessment. One hundred eighty-nine students completed pre-and post-workshop survey instruments. Students' knowledge scores increased from 86% to 93% (p,0.001). Approximately 25% of the students stated they were confident in counseling patients on emergency contraception before completing the active-learning exercise compared to 58.5% after (p,0.001). The most common barrier to counseling that students identified on the pre-and post-workshop survey was lack of knowledge. Conclusion. Participation in an active-learning exercise significantly increased pharmacy students' knowledge of and confidence in counseling patients regarding emergency contraception and significantly reduced several barriers to counseling identified prior to participation.

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Community pharmacists providing emergency contraception give little advice about future contraceptive use: a mystery shopper study

Cited by 40 publications

References 10 publications

Provision of hormonal and long-acting reversible contraceptive services by general practices in Scotland, UK (2004–2009)

Provision of hormonal and long-acting reversible contraceptive services by general practices in Scotland, UK (2004–2009)

Contraceptive use among women presenting to pharmacies for emergency contraception: an opportunity for intervention

Active-Learning Instruction on Emergency Contraception Counseling

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