The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71149

Jane Boggess, PhD¹, Kathryn S Myronuk, MS¹, Marjorie Singer, MA², and Sheena Cresswell¹. (1) Pharmacy Access Partnership, Public Health Institute, 614 Grand Avenue, Suite 400, Oakland, CA 94610, 510-272-0150, jboggess@phi.org, (2) Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 265, San Francisco, CA 94143-0936

California enacted a law, effective January 2002, allowing pharmacists with a collaborative protocol signed by a (physician) prescriber to provide emergency contraception (EC) directly to the public. Within the first year approximately 500 pharmacies decided to participate. More than 85% of the EC protocols used in these pharmacies were signed by a very small number of prescribers. Two surveys of EC pharmacies were conducted in late 2002. A “mystery caller” survey obtained data from 427 EC pharmacies. In a second survey, data were collected from pharmacists at more than 400 EC pharmacies using a structured interview process. The purpose of both surveys was to understand how well California’s current collaborative protocol system to provide EC works and identify barriers to both pharmacist and consumer participation. Data were collected on motivation for pharmacist participation, proportion of pharmacists covered by protocols within the pharmacy, cost of service to the public, amount of time it takes to provide EC service, and referrals. 91% of pharmacists reported that providing EC is an important community service. 87% stated they had never contacted their prescriber about their EC program or an EC client. More than 40% of pharmacies reported some occasions when they are unable to provide EC due to lack of pharmacists covered by EC protocols. This report provides a close look at the above and other parameters of service delivery, and examines data by a variety of defining characteristics including independent versus. chain pharmacy and length of time EC program has been time operational.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session, the participant in this session will be able to:
• 1) Understand what motivates pharmacists to provide emergency contraception under collaborative protocols.
• 2) Describe general characteristics of EC services in California as they relate to cost, length of visit, and types of referrals.
• 3) Identify differences between chain and independent pharmacy environments in providing EC services.
• 4) Understand how the collaborative protocol system impedes pharmacist and consumer participation in EC services.

Related Web page: www.pharmacyaccess.org, www.ec-help.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Pharmacy Access Partnership
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment