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Requests for emergency contraception in community pharmacy: an evaluation of services provided to mystery patients

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Open access
Authors
Higgins, S.
Hattingh, Laetitia
Date
2013
Type
Journal Article

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Higgins, Samantha J. and Hattingh, H. Laetitia. 2013. Requests for emergency contraception in community pharmacy: an evaluation of services provided to mystery patients. Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy. 9 (1): pp. 114-119.
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Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy
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NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy, Vol. 9, No. 1 (2013). DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2012.03.004

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Abstract

Background: Requests for supply of the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) through community pharmacies require consideration of a range of factors and the application of professional judgment. Pharmacists should therefore be able to follow a structured reasoning process. Objectives: The research involved an assessment of history taking and counseling by pharmacy staff through mystery patient emergency contraception product requests. Methods: Two challenging ECP request case scenarios were developed with assessment tools. Mystery patients were trained to present the scenarios to pharmacies. A project information package and expression of interest form was posted to 135 pharmacies in the Gold Coast, Australia; 23 (17%) pharmacies agreed to participate. Results: Pharmacy staff was exposed to 1 of 2 scenarios during December 2010. Staff interactions were recorded, analyzed, and rated to evaluate the management of ECP requests. The results identified practice gaps among pharmacy staff with respect to information gathering and the provision of advice. Conclusion: Ongoing training is required to enhance the skills, competence, and confidence of pharmacy staff in managing complicated requests for nonprescription medicines, such as the ECP. The impact of time pressures and financial burdens on the provision of pharmaceutical services needs to be acknowledged.