Providing emergency contraceptive pills "behind-the-counter": opinions among Minnesota healthcare providers
Kumar, A.S.; Hall, L.C.; LePage, A.; Lim, P.C.
Contraception 68(4): 253-259
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-7824 PMID: 14572888 DOI: 10.1016/s0010-7824(03)00168-9Document Number: 263255
We assessed strategies to increase access to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) among healthcare providers in Minnesota. We hypothesized that physicians, mid-level practitioners (nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants) and pharmacists would support collaborative drug therapy agreements to enable pharmacist provision of ECPs without a prescription ("behind-the-counter"). We assessed these and other strategies to improve access to ECPs among a random sample of 1000 healthcare providers using mailed surveys. Obtaining a 50% response rate (n = 495), we discovered that the majority of total respondents (and a significant proportion of physicians) favored improving ECP availability "behind-the-counter", over-the-counter or both. Support among mid-level practitioners was more guarded: 39% of respondents supported pharmacist provision of ECPs and more than 20% wanted more information. Among pharmacists, 46% said they would participate in a collaborative protocol for provision of ECPs. Results demonstrate the degree of support and illuminate potential obstacles to pharmacist-provided ECPs. While there is general support among Minnesota providers regarding ECPs, a campaign to educate providers about recent scientific data on ECPs and collaborative drug therapy agreements should be initiated.