Texas community pharmacists' willingness to participate in pharmacist-initiated emergency contraception

To determine Texas community pharmacists' knowledge about and experience with emergency contraception (EC), their perceptions about and willingness to participate in pharmacist-initiated emergency contraception (PIEC), and whether their willingness is influenced by their background characteristics or experience with EC.

Cross-sectional study.

Texas in November through December 2004.

300 community pharmacists.

Mailed questionnaire consisting of 40 questions divided into three SECTIONS: experience with EC, perceptions about PIEC, and background information.

Pharmacists' perceptions and behaviors regarding EC and PIEC, and their willingness to participate in PIEC. Bivariate analysis to assess background characteristics and experience with EC in relation to willingness to participate in PIEC; multiple regression to identify predictors of willingness to participate in PIEC.

With a usable response rate of 51%, results indicate that most pharmacists (91.2%) had heard of EC, while 45.2% kept EC in stock. More than one half (57.8%) had dispensed EC, and 95.5% were aware that EC is most effective when taken within 72 hours. Some 27.4% were opposed to dispensing EC, primarily because of religious (86.1%) and moral (80.6%) beliefs. Most (57.7%) believed that there should be a minimum age (mean +/- SD, 17.25 +/- 1.93 years) for patients receiving EC. Less than one half (46.7%) had heard of PIEC. Although pharmacists agreed (3.42 +/- 1.38) that PIEC would enhance the role of community pharmacists, they were unwilling (2.71 +/- 1.54) to participate in PIEC. Significant predictors of willingness to participate in PIEC included background characteristics, experience with EC, as well as benefits and barriers associated with PIEC. A regression analysis indicated that these significant predictors accounted for 58.6% of the total variance in willingness to participate in PIEC.

A majority of Texas community pharmacists were quite knowledgeable about and aware of EC, but fewer had actually dispensed EC. Most had not heard of PIEC before study participation, and their perceptions relating to PIEC were generally unfavorable. Potential barriers to PIEC outnumbered potential benefits for most pharmacists. Findings indicate that Texas community pharmacists were not willing to become involved in PIEC at the time of this study.