Pharmacists as prescribers is basis for Washington contraception study

Drug Store News,  March 22, 2004  by Antoinette Alexander

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

SEATTLE -- Eight local pharmacies here are participating in a one-year feasibility study that casts pharmacists in a new role when it comes to the field of contraceptive drugs--to prescribe.

The University of Washington School of Pharmacy and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology announced last month it is conducting a study to determine the feasibility of pharmacists screening and prescribing birth control in pharmacies.

Researchers will spend a year evaluating the experiences of 300 healthy, nonsmoking women between the ages of 18 and 45 who obtain prescriptions for traditional oral contraceptives, contraceptive patches or contraceptive vaginal rings at the pharmacy.

Four Bartell Drug stores and four Fred Meyer stores have agreed to participate in the study and, based on initial responses, it has been well received.

"The pharmacists want to do this, they just need to be able to show that this is practical and is something that is wanted in the community," Pam Sowers, a spokeswoman for the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, told Drug Store News.

Participants will fill out a short medical and contraceptive history questionnaire. The pharmacist then will conduct a screening process and will prescribe the most appropriate form of contraception, according to the protocol guidelines set up under the study. Pharmacists will have the authority to provide an initial three-month prescription, followed by a nine-month prescription if blood pressure is normal at the time of the return visit.

As part of the study, pharmacists will encourage women to visit their primary care physicians for routine physicals, cervical exams and infection screenings, but it is not required.

Normally contraceptive medication is only available with a prescription, but there are protocols in place in Washington that allow pharmacists to prescribe medications under certain circumstances.

"We've already been doing similar work with the provision of the morning after pill.' This is really an outgrowth of that," said Rod Shafer, chief executive officer of the Washington State Pharmacy Association. "It may be a surprise to some people, but under appropriate circumstances, pharmacists may prescribe."

However, one key question remains: Are women comfortable discussing such personal topics in a public setting with someone who is not a doctor? Based on the initial responses received by those involved, the answer is "yes."

For Bartell Drug, this is yet another example of the patient services its offers, which sets it apart from the competition.

"Cognitive services are a big part of the additional services we are offering in pharmacy," stated Mike McMurray, assistant vice president of marketing for Bartell. "We are happy to work with the University of Washington and the federal government on this study."

COPYRIGHT 2004 Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning