Hayes M, Hutchings J, Hayes P
Community and Family Health, Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, USA.
Matern Child Health J. 2000 Sep;4(3):203-8. doi: 10.1023/a:1009531731952.
National and state data on the health, social, and economic consequences of unintended pregnancy prompted Washington policy makers to identify strategies to reduce such pregnancies. Though not well known, emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are a safe and effective contraceptive method that can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hr after unprotected intercourse. A coalition conceived the idea of enabling pharmacists to prescribe ECPs directly to women through collaborative drug therapy agreements (CDTAs) with physicians.
Following a feasibility study, five agencies initiated a novel pilot project in western Washington. Key components included informing pharmacists about ECPs and CDTAs; developing tools, providing training, and developing systems to establish pharmacist/ prescriber collaborative agreements; conducting a public awareness campaign; evaluating the impact of the project; and disseminating the results.
More than 1000 pharmacists received training in all aspects of providing ECPs and 140 pharmacies participated in the project, with more than 145 CDTA on file. In the 16 months of pharmacy service provision, 11,969 ECP prescriptions were provided, possibly preventing 700 or more unintended pregnancies. The media launch led to 200 broadcast stories and increased calls to the ECP Hotline from 116 to an average of 1160 per month.
Enabling pharmacists to provide ECPs directly to women is a convenient delivery system for a time-limited therapy. It increases the chances that women will use the therapy effectively and connects women without a provider to a source of care. By increasing access to an effective contraceptive, this projects supports the Washington State goal of reducing unintended pregnancy.
关于意外怀孕对健康、社会和经济造成的后果的国家及州级数据促使华盛顿的政策制定者确定减少此类怀孕的策略。紧急避孕药（ECP）是一种安全有效的避孕方法，鲜为人知的是，如果在无保护性交后72小时内服用，它可以预防怀孕。一个联盟提出了让药剂师通过与医生签订合作药物治疗协议（CDTA）直接为女性开ECP的想法。
在一项可行性研究之后，五个机构在华盛顿州西部启动了一个新颖的试点项目。关键组成部分包括让药剂师了解ECP和CDTA；开发工具、提供培训以及建立药剂师/开处方者合作协议的系统；开展公众宣传活动；评估项目影响；以及传播结果。
1000多名药剂师接受了提供ECP各方面的培训，140家药店参与了该项目，存档的CDTA超过145份。在提供药房服务的16个月里，开出了11969份ECP处方，可能预防了700例或更多的意外怀孕。媒体宣传引发了200个广播报道，ECP热线的来电从每月116次增加到平均每月1160次。
让药剂师直接为女性提供ECP是一种方便的限时治疗给药系统。它增加了女性有效使用该治疗方法的机会，并使没有医疗服务提供者的女性能够获得医疗服务。通过增加获得有效避孕措施的机会，该项目支持了华盛顿州减少意外怀孕的目标。
