Emergency contraception from the pharmacy 20 years on: a mystery shopper study.
contraceptive agents, female
contraceptives, postcoital
pharmaceutical services
surveys and questionnaires
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:
01 2021
01 2021
Historique:
received:
24
03
2020
revised:
07
05
2020
accepted:
17
05
2020
pubmed:
20
6
2020
medline:
28
7
2021
entrez:
20
6
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Emergency contraception (EC) was approved in the UK as a pharmacy medicine for purchase without prescription in 2001. Twenty years later we conducted a study to characterise routine practice pharmacy provision of EC. Mystery shopper study of 30 pharmacies in Edinburgh, Dundee and London participating in a clinical trial of contraception after EC. Mystery shoppers, aged ≥16 years, followed a standard scenario requesting EC. After the pharmacy visit, they completed a proforma recording the duration of the consultation, where it took place, and whether advice was given to them about the importance of ongoing contraception after EC. Fifty-five mystery shopper visits were conducted. The median reported duration of the consultation with the pharmacist was 6 (range 1-18) min. Consultations took place in a private room in 34 cases (62%) and at the shop counter in the remainder. In 27 cases (49%) women received advice about ongoing contraception. Eleven women (20%) left the pharmacy without EC due to lack of supplies or of a trained pharmacist. Most women were generally positive about the consultation. While availability of EC from UK pharmacies has undoubtedly improved access, the necessity to have a consultation, however helpful, with a pharmacist introduces delays and around one in five of our mystery shoppers left without getting EC. Consultations in private are not always possible and little advice is given about ongoing contraception. It is time to make EC available without a pharmacy consultation.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Emergency contraception (EC) was approved in the UK as a pharmacy medicine for purchase without prescription in 2001. Twenty years later we conducted a study to characterise routine practice pharmacy provision of EC.
STUDY DESIGN
Mystery shopper study of 30 pharmacies in Edinburgh, Dundee and London participating in a clinical trial of contraception after EC.
METHODS
Mystery shoppers, aged ≥16 years, followed a standard scenario requesting EC. After the pharmacy visit, they completed a proforma recording the duration of the consultation, where it took place, and whether advice was given to them about the importance of ongoing contraception after EC.
RESULTS
Fifty-five mystery shopper visits were conducted. The median reported duration of the consultation with the pharmacist was 6 (range 1-18) min. Consultations took place in a private room in 34 cases (62%) and at the shop counter in the remainder. In 27 cases (49%) women received advice about ongoing contraception. Eleven women (20%) left the pharmacy without EC due to lack of supplies or of a trained pharmacist. Most women were generally positive about the consultation.
CONCLUSIONS
While availability of EC from UK pharmacies has undoubtedly improved access, the necessity to have a consultation, however helpful, with a pharmacist introduces delays and around one in five of our mystery shoppers left without getting EC. Consultations in private are not always possible and little advice is given about ongoing contraception. It is time to make EC available without a pharmacy consultation.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32554399
pii: bmjsrh-2020-200648
doi: 10.1136/bmjsrh-2020-200648
pmc: PMC7815628
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
55-60Subventions
Organisme : Chief Scientist Office
ID : SPHSU11
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Chief Scientist Office
ID : SPHSU18
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MC_UU_12017/2
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Department of Health
ID : 15/113/01
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MC_UU_12017/11
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MC_UU_00022/3
Pays : United Kingdom
Investigateurs
Peter Brocklehurst
(P)
Lucy Michie
(L)
Kaye Wellings
(K)
Joanna Loudon
(J)
Kirsten Stuart
(K)
Emily Whittaker
(E)
Claire Anderson
(C)
Elizabeth Allen
(E)
Caroline Moreau
(C)
Commentaires et corrections
Type : CommentIn
Informations de copyright
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interests: AG is a member of HRA Pharma scientific advisory board. PB is a Clinical Director of the not-for profit community interest company SH:24 that provides online sexual health services in partnership with the NHS. AR is in receipt of research grants, educational grants and consultancy with Gilead, research grants from Roche and BMS, and educational grants from Abbvie. JN is Deputy Chair of the NIHR/HTA General Board Committee. NIHR/HTA funded this research.
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