Experience and knowledge of young Hungarian pharmacist on emergency contraception and their attitudes toward
over-the counter accessibility of emergency contraceptive pills.
Dr. Melinda Vanya¹*, Dr. Mária Matuz², Dr. Ria Benkő ², Prof. Dr. Gyöngyvér Soós² Prof. Dr. György Bártfai¹,
„Nők Egészsége,Családok Egészsége”
22 -23 th March 2013. Szeged
¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Szeged
²Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged
Emergency contraceptive availability by country
Over the counter Country Available without
prescription in pharmacies
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, United Kingdom, Finland, France, Russia, Greece, Ireland, Island, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Portugalia, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia
Available without prescription in drugstores
Norway, Netherlands, Sweden
References Csermely Tamás: Sürgősségi fogamzásgátlás. Nőgyógyászati és Szülészeti Továbbképzô Szemle 2011. április
The Guideline of Royal
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain 2004.
•>16 years: ECPs available „PHARMACY MEDICINE”
• Any ages: POM (Prescription-only medicines)
„a) Pharmacists must deal with the request personally and decide whether to supply the product or refer the patient to an appropriate healthcare professional.
b) Pharmacists must ensure that all necessary advice and information is provided to enable the patient to assess whether to use the product.
c) Requests for emergency hormonal contraception should be handled sensitively with due regard being given to the customer’s right to privacy.
d) Only in exceptional circumstances should pharmacists supply the product to a person other than the patient.
e) Pharmacists should, whenever possible, take reasonable measures to inform patients of regular methods of contraception, disease prevention and sources of help.”
Previous experience in Hungary (2009).
Questionnaire-based survey among Hungarian pharmacist (n=108)
80 % of pharmacists would prefer the over the counter accessibility of ECPs
55 % of pharmacist preferred the OTC accessibility of ECP .
References
Szucs M, Szöllösi AP , Bártfai G.
Knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists regarding over-the-counter
emergency contraception in South-Eastern Hungary. Eur J
Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2010 Oct;15(5):336-42.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the experience, beliefs, and
level of knowledge of young pharmacists
on ECPs both before and after a post
gradual course entitled “Clinical aspects of
Hormonal contraception”.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The questionnaire-based survey was undertaken in Szeged, South-Eastern Hungary in June 2012.
All participant of the course were invited to answer a self-administered structured questionnaire (n=22)
The main outcome measures were the attitude toward over the counter accessibility of ECPs, frequency of demand for ECP, and knowledge of its dosing schedule, side- effects and contraindications.
22 pharmacist were invited to participate, of whom 20 agreed to complete the
questionnaire
Average age of young pharmacists:
28.06 ± 2.44 (min:25 év; max: 34 év)
4 3
9
3 6
8
8
9
5 7
6
8 4 8
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Nagyon jellemző (általában);jellemző
Előfordul Ritkán vagy soha
Ügyeletben hétköznap - éjszaka
Ügyeletben hétvégén - napközben
Ügyeletben hétvégén - éjszaka
Hétfő reggel, délelőtt
Hétköznap - nyitvatartási időben
RESULTS
Please describe your personal experience with the ECP request! When did you supply the
ECP?
How old were the majority of patients?
1 2
16
8 9
2
13 1
6 8
6
1 4 14
6
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Nagyon jellemző (általában);jellemző
Előfordul Ritkán vagy soha
15 év alatt 15-18 év 18-25 év 26-39 év 40 év és felette
What are your expectations?
Easy to access ECP?
7 6
13 14
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
előtte utána
igen nem
If the ECP will be allowed in the future in pharmacies without a prescription you agree with that?
2
7
18
11 2
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
előtte utána
Igen Nem Nincs véleményem
Advantages of OTC accessibility
of ECP
Dis-advantages of OTC accessibility
of ECP
What did you learn about emergency
contraception? What were your expectations?
(1-contraceptive, 2, 3, 4, 5-abortivum)
p=0.011 p=0.015
CONCLUSIONS
The course significantly changed the beliefs of young pharmacist as acceptance of OTC accessibility increased after course
completion.
There is an urgent need to organize ECP trainings for young pharmacists.
The presentation is supported by the European Union and co-funded by the European Social Fund.
Project title: “Broadening the knowledge base and
supporting the long term professional sustainability of the Research University Centre of Excellence at the University of Szeged by ensuring the rising generation of excellent scientists.”
Project number: TÁMOP-4.2.2/B-10/1-2010-0012
