Pharmacy access to emergency contraception: Perspectives of pharmacists at a chain pharmacy in San Francisco

Pharmacists are often the primary source of emergency contraception (EC) access and patient information. This study aims to identify differences in pharmacist-reported EC access and counseling between states which do or do not permit pharmacist-prescribed EC. This prospective, mystery caller study was completed in California (CA), which permits pharmacist-prescribed EC after completion of continuing education, and Georgia (GA), which does not. All community pharmacies that were open to the public in San Diego and San Francisco, CA, and Atlanta, GA were called by researchers who posed as adult females inquiring about EC via a structured script. Primary endpoints were EC availability and counseling. Statistical analyses completed with SPSS. Researchers called 395 pharmacies, 98.2% were reached and included. Regarding levonorgestrel (LNG), CA pharmacists more frequently discussed (CA 90.4% vs. GA 81.2%, p = 0.02), stocked (CA 89.5% vs. GA 67.8%, p < 0.01), and correctly indicated it “will work” or “will work but may be less effective” 4 days after intercourse (CA 67.5% vs. GA 17.5%, p < 0.01). Ulipristal was infrequently discussed (CA 22.6% vs. GA 3.4%, p < 0.01) and rarely stocked (CA 9.6% vs. GA 0.7%, p < 0.01). Pharmacists practicing in states which permit pharmacist-prescribed EC with completion of required continuing education may be associated with improved patient access to oral EC and more accurate patient counseling.

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An Analysis, of Variables Contributing Employment Tenure of Pharmacists in a Chain pharmacy Environment

Journal of Pharmaceutical Marketing & Management ◽

10.1300/j058v02n04_04 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 45-56

Author(s):

John Baker

Keyword(s):

Employment Tenure ◽

Chain Pharmacy ◽

A Chain

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Impact of Pharmacists’ Religious and Personal Beliefs in Dispensing Contraceptives

INNOVATIONS in pharmacy ◽

10.24926/iip.v7i4.467 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Anna Krupa ◽

Albert I Wertheimer

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Provider ◽

Quantitative Method ◽

Personal Beliefs ◽

Face To Face ◽

Professional Obligations ◽

Pharmacy Data ◽

Chain Pharmacy ◽

A Chain ◽

Compare And Contrast ◽

Emergency Contraceptives

Background: Until recently, pharmacies were not permitted to dispense any emergency contraceptives to women to prevent pregnancy. No legal statutes existed under which pharmacists with religious, moral or ethical objections could refuse to fill a prescription for contraceptives, nor were there direct guidelines describing the pharmacist’s professional obligations. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore the frequency of cases in which pharmacists have refused, due to their personal beliefs, to provide counsel regarding contraceptives or have refused to refer to a patient to a different pharmacist or healthcare provider. This study will compare and contrast the differences between independent pharmacies and chain pharmacies (i.e. time spent, location, most common recommended contraception). Finally, this study will compare the results evident between male pharmacists and female pharmacists. Method: Quantitative method employed uses two interview questions directed to pharmacists: (1) “I am moving in with my fiancée/boyfriend next month and I have never used contraceptives. What are my options?” (2) “If I use a condom and it breaks, do I have any choices to prevent pregnancy after the fact?” The survey was conducted in two locations, the greater Philadelphia area and Hershey, PA. The survey was conducted through face-to-face interactions with pharmacists, either employed at independent pharmacy or at a chain pharmacy. Data collected from each pharmacist included number of approximate age/gender; minutes spent in each consultation with a patient; the kind of privacy provided during the consultation; and the referrals given, if any. Results: Fifty (50) pharmacists were interviewed. No pharmacist indicated that counseling would be denied, although one (1) pharmacist refused to counsel on Plan B and four (4) pharmacists referred the interviewer to a doctor immediately, indicating that all medications require a prescription. Two (2) pharmacists spent more than 10 minutes providing the best possible counseling. Type: Student Project

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Immunization Campaign to Improve the Pneumococcal Vaccine Rates in a Chain Pharmacy across Puerto Rico through the Implementation of an Educational Program

Journal of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems ◽

10.4172/2376-0419.s3-004 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol s3 ◽

Author(s):

Ileana Rodriguez

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Pneumococcal Vaccine ◽

Educational Program ◽

Chain Pharmacy ◽

A Chain ◽

Immunization Campaign

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An Analysis, of Variables Contributing Employment Tenure of Pharmacists in a Chain pharmacy Environment

Journal of Pharmaceutical Marketing & Management ◽

10.3109/j058v02n04_04 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 45-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John P. Baker ◽

Buford T. Lively ◽

Harvey M. Rappaport ◽

Kenneth R. Shrader

Keyword(s):

Employment Tenure ◽

Chain Pharmacy ◽

A Chain

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Genetic Engineering for Herbicide Resistance Proceedings of a Symposium of the Weed Science Society of America February 1985

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s004317450006094x ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 35 (S1) ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

Homer M. LeBaron

Keyword(s):

San Francisco ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Symbiotic Relationships ◽

Charles Arntzen ◽

History Of ◽

Rate Of Photosynthesis ◽

A Chain ◽

The University ◽

Isolated Chloroplasts ◽

Important Progress

Those who study the history of science and technology understand the important symbiotic relationships that exist between the various disciplines, and how a breakthrough in one area can trigger a chain reaction that leads to even more important progress in another area of science. This has certainly occurred in the discovery of triazine-resistant weeds in the late 1960's, followed in 1973 when Stanley Cohen of Stanford University and Herbert Boyer of the University of California at San Francisco found a simple way to combine DNA from two different organisms and then to clone identical copies of these recombined DNA molecules in bacteria. In 1975, Steven Radosevich made the important observation that isolated chloroplasts from triazine-resistant weeds were not inhibited in their rate of photosynthesis when treated with atrazine. With the use of triazine-resistant weeds and their chloroplasts, our knowledge of the structure of chloroplasts (herbicide binding genes that control the various peptides and amino acid sequences) and many other aspects of photosynthesis has expanded greatly during the past 10 years, with major contributions by Charles Arntzen and many other scientists.

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Emergency Contraception Counseling in California Community Pharmacies: A Mystery Caller Study

Pharmacy ◽

10.3390/pharmacy7020038 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 38 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ditmars ◽

Rafie ◽

Kashou ◽

Cleland ◽

Bayer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

San Francisco ◽

Emergency Contraception ◽

San Diego ◽

Intrauterine Device ◽

Community Pharmacists ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Ulipristal Acetate ◽

Contraception Counseling ◽

Copper Intrauterine Device

This study was conducted to determine which emergency contraception (EC) methods are offered by community pharmacists in response to patient calls. Female mystery callers called all community pharmacies in two California cities using standardized scripts. The callers inquired about options available to prevent pregnancy after sex and whether that method was available at the pharmacy, using follow-up probes if necessary. A total of 239 calls were completed in San Diego (n = 127, 53%) and San Francisco (n = 112, 47%). Pharmacists indicated availability at most sites (n = 220, 92%) with option(s) reported as levonorgestrel only (LNG; n = 211, 88.3%), both ulipristal acetate (UPA) and LNG (n = 4, 1.6%), UPA only (n = 1, 0.4%), or non-specific EC (n = 4, 1.7%). Nineteen pharmacies (7.9%) did not have EC available on the day of the call. Following additional probing, some pharmacists discussed UPA (n = 49, 20.5%) or the copper intrauterine device (n = 1, 0.4%) as EC options. LNG EC products were available same-day in 90.1% of pharmacies, whereas UPA was available same-day in 9.6% of pharmacies. The majority of pharmacies called in this study offered and stocked at least one EC option, but the focus of discussions was on LNG and matched what was in stock and available.

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