Soper Katie, Di Meglio Giuseppina
Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Division of Adolescent Medicine, Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Aug 30;25(6):385-388. doi: 10.1093/pch/pxz109. eCollection 2020 Oct.
Access to effective contraceptives, including emergency contraception (EC), is critical to reducing unintended adolescent pregnancy. This study evaluates the accessibility of Ln-EC (levonorgestrel EC) for adolescents in Quebec community pharmacies.
We conducted an anonymous self-administered electronic survey of Quebec community pharmacists between June 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016. Pharmacists were asked about the availability of Ln-EC in their pharmacy, whether they prescribed Ln-EC, and their experience with adolescents who requested Ln-EC.
Five hundred and ninety-one pharmacists responded, with representation from across the province. Ninety-five per cent had Ln-EC in stock. Most pharmacists (90%) reported being comfortable prescribing Ln-EC, though they were less comfortable prescribing to adolescents than to adults (*P<0.001). Pharmacists also reported that cost and confidentiality are barriers to accessing Ln-EC for some adolescents.
This study indicates that availability and pharmacist comfort are not likely to be barriers to Ln-EC use for adolescents. On the other hand, cost and/or confidentiality do represent a barrier for some adolescents. This study lays the groundwork for a national study examining the accessibility of EC for adolescents.
获得有效的避孕方法，包括紧急避孕，对于减少意外青少年怀孕至关重要。本研究评估了魁北克社区药房中左炔诺孕酮紧急避孕（Ln-EC）对青少年的可及性。
我们在2016年6月1日至2016年10月31日期间对魁北克社区药剂师进行了一项匿名的自我管理电子调查。询问药剂师其药房中Ln-EC的供应情况、是否开具Ln-EC以及他们与要求使用Ln-EC的青少年的经历。
591名药剂师做出回应，来自该省各地。95%的药房有Ln-EC库存。大多数药剂师（90%）报告说开具Ln-EC感到自在，尽管他们给青少年开具时不如给成年人开具时自在（P<0.001）。药剂师还报告说，费用和保密性对一些青少年获取Ln-EC来说是障碍。
本研究表明，可及性和药剂师的自在程度不太可能成为青少年使用Ln-EC的障碍。另一方面，费用和/或保密性对一些青少年确实构成障碍。本研究为一项关于青少年获取紧急避孕的全国性研究奠定了基础。
