Evaluation of Student Pharmacists' Attitudes and Perceptions of Hormonal Contraception Prescribing in Indiana.

J Henry Papineau,Jenny L Newlon,Ashley H Meredith,Ryan S Ades,Tracey A Wilkinson,Lynn M Thoma,Veronica Vernon

doi:10.3390/pharmacy9040185

Abstract

Community pharmacists’ scope of practice is expanding to include hormonal contraceptive prescribing. Prior to introducing statewide legislation, it is important to assess the perceptions of future pharmacists. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 651 third- and fourth-year professional students enrolled at three colleges of pharmacy in Indiana. Data were collected between September and October 2019 to assess students’ attitudes about prescribing hormonal contraceptives, readiness to prescribe, perceived barriers, and desire for additional training. In total, 20.9% (n = 136) students responded. Most (89%, n = 121) believe that pharmacist-prescribed hormonal contraceptives would be beneficial to women in Indiana, and 91% (n = 124) reported interest in providing this service. Liability, personal beliefs, and religious beliefs were the most commonly cited perceived barriers. Most students felt they received adequate teaching on hormonal contraceptive methods (90%, n = 122) and hormonal contraceptive counseling (79%, n = 107); only 5% (n = 7) felt ready to provide the service at the time of survey completion. Student pharmacists in their final two years of pharmacy school are interested in prescribing hormonal contraceptives and believe that this service would be beneficial. This expansion of pharmacy practice would likely be supported by future pharmacists who feel the service could provide benefit to women seeking hormonal contraceptives in Indiana.

Highlights

Pharmacists are addressing important public health issues and increasing access to care by providing an increasing range of services
A total of 651 third- and fourth-year student pharmacists enrolled at Butler, Manchester, and Purdue Universities during the 2019–2020 academic year were invited to participate in the study
The results demonstrate that the third- and fourth-year student pharmacists surveyed believe pharmacist prescribing of hormonal contraceptives would be beneficial to women in Indiana and they are interested in providing this service after graduation

Summary

Introduction

Pharmacists are addressing important public health issues and increasing access to care by providing an increasing range of services. Pharmacists in several states, including Indiana, are permitted to provide tobacco cessation products via a standing order [1]. This service improves patient access to smoking cessation products at their local community pharmacy, without requiring an in-office provider visit. Pharmacists are helping to address another important public health issue by prescribing hormonal contraceptives in several states—unintended pregnancies. In 95% of unintended pregnancies, women cite lack of or inconsistent use of hormonal contraceptives [2]

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