Murray Learning Centre, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
J Pharm Pract. 2022 Apr;35(2):256-262. doi: 10.1177/0897190020961698. Epub 2020 Sep 29.
Emergency contraception has been available in pharmacies across England since 2001.There is a paucity of evidence describing those women accessing the service, particularly in rural locations, where pharmacies are integral to improving healthcare accessibility.
Routinely collected data from all pharmacy consultations for emergency contraception in Shropshire, England, were obtained and anonymized for the study period April 1, 2016 to January 31, 2019. Consultations were described by time, age of consultee, rationale for consultation, method dispensed (levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate), referral for copper intrauterine device fitting, chlamydia screening where appropriate and reason for choosing pharmacy setting. Repeat attenders were also described separately.
3499 consultations occurred during the study period; 39% were aged between 16-20 years, and 52% attended following unprotected sexual intercourse. Levonorgestrel was initially most prescribed, however ulipristal acetate overtook it in 2018. Onward referral for copper intrauterine device and age-appropriate chlamydia screening took place in 3% and 4% of the eligible populations respectively. Women overwhelmingly chose the pharmacy setting owing to its convenience. Repeat attenders tended to be younger than single attenders, but otherwise similar.
Pharmacy-based emergency contraception is an important and well-utilized service in this rural location and continued funding and possible service expansion should be considered.
自 2001 年以来，紧急避孕措施在英格兰各地的药店均可获得。但是，关于使用该服务的女性的相关证据很少，尤其是在农村地区，那里的药店是改善医疗服务可及性的重要组成部分。
本研究获取了英格兰什罗普郡所有药店提供紧急避孕服务的常规咨询数据，并在研究期间（2016 年 4 月 1 日至 2019 年 1 月 31 日）对其进行了匿名处理。根据时间、咨询人年龄、咨询理由、所分发的方法（左炔诺孕酮或乌利司他）、是否转诊以适配铜宫内节育器、是否进行适当的衣原体筛查以及选择药店的原因对咨询进行了描述。还分别描述了重复就诊者的情况。
在研究期间共发生了 3499 次咨询；39%的咨询人年龄在 16-20 岁之间，52%的咨询人是在没有进行保护的性行为后就诊的。最初最常开的是左炔诺孕酮，但在 2018 年乌利司他超过了它。符合条件的人群中，分别有 3%和 4%的人被转介接受铜宫内节育器和适龄的衣原体筛查。女性选择药店主要是因为其便利性。重复就诊者往往比单次就诊者年轻，但其他方面相似。
在这个农村地区，基于药店的紧急避孕措施是一项重要且利用率高的服务，应继续考虑为其提供资金并可能扩大服务范围。
