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. 2022 Sep:113:113-118.
doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.05.004. Epub 2022 May 14.

Implementation of a pharmacist-led hormonal contraceptive prescribing service in a campus community pharmacy in Indiana, United States

Zoona M Ahmad  1 , Nicole L Noel  2 , Trexie M Rudd  2 , Craig S Nadelson  3 , Mary A Ott  4 , Tracey A Wilkinson  4 , Ashley H Meredith  5
Affiliations

Implementation of a pharmacist-led hormonal contraceptive prescribing service in a campus community pharmacy in Indiana, United States

Zoona M Ahmad et al. Contraception. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Objective(s): College-age people have the highest numbers of unintended pregnancies and pharmacies within college campuses are in a unique position to meet student needs. Our objective was to implement a pharmacist contraceptive prescribing service in a campus pharmacy and examine the service utilization.

Study design: The Purdue University Pharmacy (Indiana, United States) implemented a pharmacist hormonal contraception prescribing service via a collaborative drug therapy management agreement with the campus student health center. The collaborative drug therapy management agreement enables pharmacists to independently prescribe pills, patches, rings, injections, and emergency contraception to students meeting eligibility criteria. After completing a patient health screening and blood pressure check, the pharmacist discusses the eligible method(s) and prescribes up to a 12-month supply. A referral to another provider for long-acting reversible contraception or further evaluation may also be provided. We collected basic information about each encounter (e.g., age, blood pressure, method of contraception prescribed, and time).

Results: During the 2020-2021 academic year, 125 prescribing consultations took place with an average appointment length of 20 minutes (range, 12-65 minutes). The median patient age was 21 years (range, 18-30 years). Eligible patients (n = 123, 98%) received a prescription and 119 (95%) prescriptions were written: combined oral pill (n = 91, 77%), injection (n = 12, 10%), patch (n = 6, 5%), vaginal ring (n = 5, 4%), and progestin only pill (n = 5, 4%).

Conclusion(s): The pharmacist contraception prescribing service developed by the Purdue University Pharmacy and Student Health Center is a unique approach to meeting the needs of students. Few external resources are required for implementation, and most patients were medically eligible to receive hormonal contraception.

Implications: Collaboration between on-campus student health centers and pharmacies can be explored as 1 approach to increase access to hormonal contraception for students.

Keywords: Community pharmacy services; Contraception; Health services accessibility; Pharmacists; Student health services.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Outcome of pharmacist hormonal contraception prescribing appointments at the Purdue University Pharmacy (n=125, August 2020 – June 2021) BP = Blood pressure; POP = progestin only pill; US MEC = United States Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Number of prescriptions written at the Purdue University Pharmacy, by week (n=119, September 2020 – June 2021) Sep = September; Oct = October; Nov = November; Dec = December; Jan = January; Feb = February; Mar = March; Apr = April
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Contraceptive methods prescribed at the Purdue University Pharmacy, by month (n=119, September 2020 – June 2021) COC = combined oral contraceptive; POP = progestin only pill
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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