title: To develop and measure the effectiveness and acceptability of a pharmacy-based chlamydia screening intervention in Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and measure the effectiveness and acceptability of a pharmacy-based chlamydia screening intervention called Emergency Contraception Mediated Pharmacy Access to Chlamydia Testing (ECOMPACT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective, opportunistic and cross-sectional study targeting asymptomatic women requesting emergency contraception (EC).
  
  
  METHODS
  20 community pharmacies in the Perth metropolitan region, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  ECOMAPCT was developed through literature review and stakeholder consensus. Pharmacists were trained to offer ECOMPACT after the EC consultation. Women with signs and symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STI) were referred to a physician for a full sexual health check. Asymptomatic women were offered a free ECOMPACT testing kit. The women self-collected a low-vaginal swab and returned their pathological specimen to designated drop-off sites. A pathology service analysed the specimens and sent the results to a sexual health physician. The effectiveness of ECOMPACT was determined by the uptake of the intervention and how well the target population was reached. An effective screening rate was calculated. Qualitative analysis was undertaken to understand acceptability issues from the perspective of the consumer and the pharmacists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 769 EC consultations in a 6-month period, 569 (78%) women were given information on chlamydia screening. All 247 (41%) agreed to participate. 81 (33%) of these women were ineligible. They were either symptomatic (n=33; 41%), or were under 18 years of age (n=48; 59%). Pharmacists successfully requested 166 (67%) pathology tests, of which 46 (28%) were returned to a pathology drop-off site. All tested negative for Chlamydia trachomatis. The effective screening rate was 6%. Consumers and pharmacists considered ECOMPACT to be highly convenient and the time taken to offer a chlamydia test along with an EC consultation as highly appropriate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ECOMPACT was found to be simple, effective and acceptable. Given the opportunity, adequate training and support, community pharmacists in Australia were capable of requesting direct-to-consumer chlamydia tests.
authors: Centre for Optimisation of Medicines, Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Sajni
authors: S
authors: Gudka
authors: Lewis
authors: L
authors: Marshall
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Creagh
authors: Rhonda M
authors: RM
authors: Clifford
keywords: HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION & MANAGEMENT; PUBLIC HEALTH
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