A 5-year evaluation of the emergency contraception enhanced community pharmacy service provided in Wales.
community pharmacy service
emergency contraception
oral contraception
secondary analysis
service delivery
sex education
Journal
BMJ sexual & reproductive health
ISSN: 2515-2009
Titre abrégé: BMJ Sex Reprod Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101715577
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
08 Aug 2019
08 Aug 2019
Historique:
received:
25
09
2018
revised:
03
07
2019
accepted:
21
07
2019
entrez:
10
8
2019
pubmed:
10
8
2019
medline:
10
8
2019
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Access to emergency contraception (EC) has been a core component of attempts to address high teenage pregnancy rates in Wales. A national service was commissioned in 2011, allowing supply of EC free of charge from community pharmacies (CPs). This study investigated 5 years of the EC service, to describe its use and investigate changes in the pattern of use over time. Secondary analyses of data from all National Health Service funded CP EC consultations in Wales between 1 August 2012 and 31 July 2017 (n=181 359). Data comprised standardised clinical and demographic information, in the form of predefined service user responses, submitted for reimbursement by CPs. Overall service provision remained relatively consistent over the study period, with women aged between 13 and 59 years accessing the service. An association was observed between the time since unprotected sexual intercourse and the day on which the service was accessed (Χ Access to EC through CPs is contributing to reducing teenage conceptions and termination rates. However, action is needed to increase contraception use in all age groups. Reduced availability of CP services on Sundays is a barrier to timely EC access. Findings support an expanded role for community pharmacists in provision of regular contraception.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Access to emergency contraception (EC) has been a core component of attempts to address high teenage pregnancy rates in Wales. A national service was commissioned in 2011, allowing supply of EC free of charge from community pharmacies (CPs). This study investigated 5 years of the EC service, to describe its use and investigate changes in the pattern of use over time.
METHODS
METHODS
Secondary analyses of data from all National Health Service funded CP EC consultations in Wales between 1 August 2012 and 31 July 2017 (n=181 359). Data comprised standardised clinical and demographic information, in the form of predefined service user responses, submitted for reimbursement by CPs.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Overall service provision remained relatively consistent over the study period, with women aged between 13 and 59 years accessing the service. An association was observed between the time since unprotected sexual intercourse and the day on which the service was accessed (Χ
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Access to EC through CPs is contributing to reducing teenage conceptions and termination rates. However, action is needed to increase contraception use in all age groups. Reduced availability of CP services on Sundays is a barrier to timely EC access. Findings support an expanded role for community pharmacists in provision of regular contraception.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31395752
pii: bmjsrh-2018-200236
doi: 10.1136/bmjsrh-2018-200236
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interests: None declared.