Ruth A Nona, Robin A Ray, Selina M Taylor, Beverley D Glass
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives: Reducing the rate and impact of unintended pregnancy through effective contraception is a public health goal. Since deregulation, globally, ease of access to community pharmacists has enabled them to play a key role in the provision of emergency hormonal contraceptive pills (ECP). The aim of this scoping review is to explore pharmacists' overall knowledge of and attitudes and practices towards the provision of emergency contraception.
Methods: A systematic literature search for the period from 1999 to 2023 was conducted using Scopus, Medline (Ovid), CINAHL, Emcare, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Keywords such as emergency contraception, emergency contraceptive, morning after pill, plan B, pharmacist, community pharmacist, and pharmacy were applied. Articles published only in English that described the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists providing emergency contraception were included in this review.
Key findings: Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Despite positive attitudes towards the provision of ECP, there is a clear deficit in both the knowledge and counselling practices of pharmacists, with some pharmacists lacking an open attitude towards the supply of ECP to adolescents and third parties. Usage of a private counselling area ranged from 0% to 90% highlighting privacy for patients seeking ECPs is lacking during consultations. In countries where practice guidelines are available, these are often not being optimally utilized.
Conclusions: This review has highlighted gaps in pharmacists' knowledge and counselling practices, demonstrating shortcomings in pharmacists' education, training, and application of professional practice guidelines. Future research on ECP guidelines is recommended to improve implementation and usability in practice.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Pharmacy Practice (IJPP) is a Medline-indexed, peer reviewed, international journal. It is one of the leading journals publishing health services research in the context of pharmacy, pharmaceutical care, medicines and medicines management. Regular sections in the journal include, editorials, literature reviews, original research, personal opinion and short communications. Topics covered include: medicines utilisation, medicine management, medicines distribution, supply and administration, pharmaceutical services, professional and patient/lay perspectives, public health (including, e.g. health promotion, needs assessment, health protection) evidence based practice, pharmacy education. Methods include both evaluative and exploratory work including, randomised controlled trials, surveys, epidemiological approaches, case studies, observational studies, and qualitative methods such as interviews and focus groups. Application of methods drawn from other disciplines e.g. psychology, health economics, morbidity are especially welcome as are developments of new methodologies.