OBJECTIVE: To describe how prescribers and pharmacists view the Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) program, and to evaluate pharmacists' performance through the use of a consumer survey. DESIGN: Self-administered provider satisfaction surveys were mailed 6 months after the program's inception. Consumer satisfaction surveys were distributed at the point of ECP service for return by mail. SETTING: The program encouraged pharmacists and prescribers in western Washington to enter into collaborative prescribing agreements, increasing consumers' access to ECP. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Pharmacists who had attended ECP training sessions, prescribers who had authorized pharmacists to prescribe ECP, and women who had been prescribed ECP by pharmacists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Providers' reasons for participating, attitudes toward the ECP program, and experiences with ECP as a result of the program; feedback from women receiving ECP from pharmacists. RESULTS: 309 pharmacist surveys and 55 prescriber surveys were sent, of which 159 (51%) and 27 (49%), respectively, were returned. Meeting patient needs and having a professional responsibility to participate were commonly reported reasons for ECP program involvement. Both pharmacists and prescribers (92%) reported being "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their prescribing agreements. On the 470 consumer surveys returned out of 7,000 distributed (6.5%), pharmacists were rated highly satisfactory for their interactions with patients and the quality of information about ECP use given, but less satisfactory for information about adverse effects, recognition and follow-up of ECP failure, and regular contraceptive methods. CONCLUSION: All participants expressed satisfaction with the ECP program. This example should support the initiation of similar programs in other states.
OBJECTIVE: To describe how prescribers and pharmacists view the Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) program, and to evaluate pharmacists' performance through the use of a consumer survey. DESIGN: Self-administered provider satisfaction surveys were mailed 6 months after the program's inception. Consumer satisfaction surveys were distributed at the point of ECP service for return by mail. SETTING: The program encouraged pharmacists and prescribers in western Washington to enter into collaborative prescribing agreements, increasing consumers' access to ECP. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Pharmacists who had attended ECP training sessions, prescribers who had authorized pharmacists to prescribe ECP, and women who had been prescribed ECP by pharmacists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Providers' reasons for participating, attitudes toward the ECP program, and experiences with ECP as a result of the program; feedback from women receiving ECP from pharmacists. RESULTS: 309 pharmacist surveys and 55 prescriber surveys were sent, of which 159 (51%) and 27 (49%), respectively, were returned. Meeting patient needs and having a professional responsibility to participate were commonly reported reasons for ECP program involvement. Both pharmacists and prescribers (92%) reported being "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their prescribing agreements. On the 470 consumer surveys returned out of 7,000 distributed (6.5%), pharmacists were rated highly satisfactory for their interactions with patients and the quality of information about ECP use given, but less satisfactory for information about adverse effects, recognition and follow-up of ECP failure, and regular contraceptive methods. CONCLUSION: All participants expressed satisfaction with the ECP program. This example should support the initiation of similar programs in other states.
Authors: Chih-Wen Shi; Steven M Asch; Eve Fielder; Lillian Gelberg; Robert H Brook; Barbara Leake; Martin F Shapiro; Patrick Dowling; Michael Nichol Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2003-04 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Sally Rafie; Rebecca H Stone; Tracey A Wilkinson; Laura M Borgelt; Shareen Y El-Ibiary; Denise Ragland Journal: Integr Pharm Res Pract Date: 2017-03-23