Readiness of pharmacists and consumers for pharmacy-based chlamydia screening in Australia and Switzerland

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess chlamydia knowledge, willingness to undertake pharmacy-based chlamydia testing, and facilitators and barriers to such testing in consumers and community pharmacists, in Australia (AUS) and Switzerland (CH). MethodsStatements of interest were retrieved from literature and assembled into a 12-item online survey (English and German versions). Survey was disseminated through Facebook, pharmacies’ publicly available emails and professional websites (March 2015). ResultsConsumers and pharmacists (AUS: ncons = 198, npharm = 162; CH: ncons = 209, npharm = 223) were predominantly female (>65%). Mean chlamydia knowledge scores (maximum of 8) were higher in Australia in consumers (AUS: 6.8 ± 1.5 vs CH: 4.2 ± 2.4; p < 0.001) and in pharmacists (AUS: 7.1 ± 1.1 vs CH: 6.1 ± 1.4; p < 0.001). High willingness of consumers to seek testing (AUS: 79.3% vs CH: 83.3%, p = 0.3) and of pharmacists to provide testing (AUS: 95.7% vs CH: 80.3%, p < 0.001) was observed. Greatest barrier for consumers was “Embarrassed about asking for a test” (AUS: 47.8% vs CH: 51.2%, p = 0.7) and “No remuneration” for pharmacists (AUS: 40.7% vs CH: 31.8%, p = 0.07). ConclusionThe majority of consumers and pharmacists support pharmacy-based chlamydia testing. There is now emerging evidence that the policy makers in Australia and Switzerland need to develop pharmacy-based chlamydia testing as core business.