Kaur Guneet, Fontanilla Tiana, Bullock Holly, Tschann Mary
MS in Narrative Medicine Program, Columbia University School of Professional Studies, 203 Lewisohn Hall 2970 Broadway, MC 4119, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Division of Family Planning, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, 1319 Punahou St. Suite 824, Honolulu, HI 96826, USA.
Pharmacy (Basel). 2020 May 1;8(2):77. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy8020077.
Pharmacy staff can serve an important role educating patients about emergency contraceptive pills (ECP), particularly ulipristal acetate (UPA), which requires a prescription. We conducted a secondary analysis of a previously completed mystery client study, assessing accuracy of information provided by pharmacy staffers to patients inquiring by telephone about filling a prescription for UPA. From the period December 2013 to July 2014, researchers used a mystery client methodology, contacting 198 retail pharmacies in Hawai'i. Researchers posed as patients or providers attempting to fill a prescription for UPA. During the course of the call, they asked about differences between UPA and levonorgestrel ECPs. Nearly half of all pharmacy staffers were unfamiliar with UPA. The majority of responses describing differences between the medications were incorrect or misleading, such as responses implying that UPA is an abortifacient. Lack of familiarity and incorrect information provided by pharmacy staffers may act as additional barriers in patient access to UPA. Health practitioners prescribing UPA should ensure patients receive evidence-based counseling at the time of prescription, while efforts should also be made to improve pharmacy staff familiarity with emergency contraceptive options.
药剂师在向患者普及紧急避孕药（ECP）方面，尤其是醋酸乌利司他（UPA，一种需要处方的紧急避孕药）方面，能发挥重要作用。我们对之前完成的一项神秘顾客研究进行了二次分析，评估药剂师向通过电话咨询UPA处方配药情况的患者提供的信息的准确性。在2013年12月至2014年7月期间，研究人员采用神秘顾客方法，联系了夏威夷的198家零售药店。研究人员假扮患者或医疗服务提供者，试图开具UPA处方。在通话过程中，他们询问了UPA与左炔诺孕酮紧急避孕药之间的区别。几乎一半的药剂师不熟悉UPA。大多数描述两种药物区别的回答都是错误或有误导性的，比如暗示UPA是堕胎药的回答。药剂师缺乏了解以及提供错误信息可能会成为患者获取UPA的额外障碍。开具UPA处方的医疗从业者应确保患者在开处方时能得到基于证据的咨询，同时也应努力提高药剂师对紧急避孕选择的了解程度。
