Pharmacist-Prescribed Hormonal Contraception: Does Didactic Hormonal Contraception Education Affect Student Pharmacist Perceptions of This Professional Activity?

• Main Authors: Rachel Rikard, Jennifer Elliott, Erin Dalton, Rebecca H. Stone
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
• Series: Pharmacy
• Subjects: hormonal contraception; student pharmacists; pharmacy access; pharmacist-prescribed
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/9/3/145

Since 2014, select states have allowed pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraception (HC). This study describes student pharmacists’ perceptions of a pharmacist’s scope of practice, education, and interest, and identifies differences between students who have completed didactic HC content in their professional curriculum versus those who have not. A voluntary online survey was emailed to all students in three Georgia pharmacy schools. Descriptive statistics were reported. Likert square responses were dichotomized, and Chi square testing identified differences between groups. A total of 1256 students were invited, 35% completed the survey, of those 68% had received HC didactic content in their curriculum. Regardless of HC education, most students “agree” or “strongly agree” that pharmacists are adequately educated to prescribe HC (92% vs. 86%, <i>p</i> = 0.05) and prescribing HC is within the pharmacist’s scope of practice (89% vs. 84%, <i>p</i> = 0.12). Although not currently permitted in Georgia, most are interested in prescribing (97% vs. 96%, <i>p</i> = 0.5). Of the students who have received HC didactic content, 87% felt “moderately”, “well”, or “extremely well-educated” regarding HC prescribing clinical skills. Regardless of didactic training, pharmacy students believe pharmacists are prepared to prescribe HC and support pharmacist-prescribed HC as a part of their future professional scope of practice.