Pharmacy Daily | Pharmacists key to boosting POP use

EMPOWERING pharmacists to dispense a three-month supply of a progestogen-only pill (POP) to women when they present seeking emergency contraception (EC), can help reduce unintended pregnancies, research reveals.

The authors noted that while most women who require EC access it through a community pharmacy, they are usually required to get an appointment with their GP or at a sexual and reproductive health clinic (SRH).

"Getting an appointment can take time and unintended pregnancies can occur during this time," they said.

"We undertook a study in 29 pharmacies in Lothian, Tayside and London among women receiving emergency contraception.

"Pharmacists provided either their standard advice about contraception (control group) or the intervention. The intervention was a three-month supply of the POP plus a rapid-access card, which, if presented at a sexual and reproductive health clinic, would help women get an appointment for contraception.

"The order in which the pharmacy provided either control or intervention was randomised.

"We conducted telephone interviews with the women four months later to find out what contraception they were using.

"A total of 636 women took part in the study, 316 in the intervention group and 320 in the control group.

"The proportion who said that they were using an effective method of contraception was around 20% larger in the intervention group.

"In addition, fewer women in this group said that they had used EC again.

"This study shows that community pharmacy provision of a small supply of progestogen-only pills and the invitation to attend a sexual and reproductive health clinic results in a large increase in the use of effective contraception after emergency contraception.

"If this became routine practice then it could help prevent unintended pregnancies."

The study was published in Health Technology Assessment.