Extended Access to Hormonal Contraception in Pharmacies: A Survey among Swiss Pharmacists
Background: Worldwide the availability to Hormonal Contraceptives (HC) varies from over the counter (OTC) to prescription-only access. In various countries pharmacists are allowed to prescribe HC, although conditions may be different. In Switzerland, HC require a prescription from a physician, altho...
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doaj-69674568ec2e4706bb1694d05b9ffd812020-11-25T03:59:06ZengMDPI AGPharmacy2226-47872020-11-01821021010.3390/pharmacy8040210Extended Access to Hormonal Contraception in Pharmacies: A Survey among Swiss PharmacistsTamara Yous0Samuel Allemann1Monika Lutters2Department of Medical Sciences, Private University of the Principality of Liechtenstein, 9495 Triesen, LiechtensteinpharmaSuisse, Swiss Pharmacists Association, 3097 Bern-Liebefeld, SwitzerlandClinical Pharmacy, Cantonal Hospital of Baden, 5404 Baden, SwitzerlandBackground: Worldwide the availability to Hormonal Contraceptives (HC) varies from over the counter (OTC) to prescription-only access. In various countries pharmacists are allowed to prescribe HC, although conditions may be different. In Switzerland, HC require a prescription from a physician, although Swiss law allows pharmacists to dispense prescription-only medications in justified exceptional cases without a valid physician’s prescription. This study aimed to identify current dispensing practices for HC in Swiss pharmacies, pharmacists’ knowledge about HC, and their opinion and interest about expanding access to HC. Methods: Web-based survey among Swiss pharmacists. Results: This survey was completed by 397 registered pharmacists and 331 (83%) were included for analysis. The survey showed that 21% of respondents regularly dispense HC without prescription and that a high number of participants are either very interested (57%, <i>n</i> = 189) or rather interested (33%, <i>n</i> = 110) in extended pharmacy access to HC. The majority did not or rather not support physician’s prescription-only status (77%, <i>n</i> = 256) or OTC availability (94%, <i>n</i> = 310). Furthermore, surveyed pharmacists are willing to train for contraception services (90%, <i>n</i> = 299). According to participants, resistance of physicians is the most relevant barrier to this service (88%, <i>n</i> = 292). Conclusion: Surveyed pharmacists are interested in extended access to HC.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/8/4/210hormonal contraceptivesbirth controlcommunity pharmacistpharmaceutical servicespharmacies |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Tamara Yous Samuel Allemann Monika Lutters |
spellingShingle |
Tamara Yous Samuel Allemann Monika Lutters Extended Access to Hormonal Contraception in Pharmacies: A Survey among Swiss Pharmacists Pharmacy hormonal contraceptives birth control community pharmacist pharmaceutical services pharmacies |
author_facet |
Tamara Yous Samuel Allemann Monika Lutters |
author_sort |
Tamara Yous |
title |
Extended Access to Hormonal Contraception in Pharmacies: A Survey among Swiss Pharmacists |
title_short |
Extended Access to Hormonal Contraception in Pharmacies: A Survey among Swiss Pharmacists |
title_full |
Extended Access to Hormonal Contraception in Pharmacies: A Survey among Swiss Pharmacists |
title_fullStr |
Extended Access to Hormonal Contraception in Pharmacies: A Survey among Swiss Pharmacists |
title_full_unstemmed |
Extended Access to Hormonal Contraception in Pharmacies: A Survey among Swiss Pharmacists |
title_sort |
extended access to hormonal contraception in pharmacies: a survey among swiss pharmacists |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Pharmacy |
issn |
2226-4787 |
publishDate |
2020-11-01 |
description |
Background: Worldwide the availability to Hormonal Contraceptives (HC) varies from over the counter (OTC) to prescription-only access. In various countries pharmacists are allowed to prescribe HC, although conditions may be different. In Switzerland, HC require a prescription from a physician, although Swiss law allows pharmacists to dispense prescription-only medications in justified exceptional cases without a valid physician’s prescription. This study aimed to identify current dispensing practices for HC in Swiss pharmacies, pharmacists’ knowledge about HC, and their opinion and interest about expanding access to HC. Methods: Web-based survey among Swiss pharmacists. Results: This survey was completed by 397 registered pharmacists and 331 (83%) were included for analysis. The survey showed that 21% of respondents regularly dispense HC without prescription and that a high number of participants are either very interested (57%, <i>n</i> = 189) or rather interested (33%, <i>n</i> = 110) in extended pharmacy access to HC. The majority did not or rather not support physician’s prescription-only status (77%, <i>n</i> = 256) or OTC availability (94%, <i>n</i> = 310). Furthermore, surveyed pharmacists are willing to train for contraception services (90%, <i>n</i> = 299). According to participants, resistance of physicians is the most relevant barrier to this service (88%, <i>n</i> = 292). Conclusion: Surveyed pharmacists are interested in extended access to HC. |
topic |
hormonal contraceptives birth control community pharmacist pharmaceutical services pharmacies |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/8/4/210 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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