title: Pharmacy staff perceptions and self-reported behaviors related to providing contraceptive information and counseling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate pharmacy staff perspectives of a 2-year pharmacy intervention aimed at reducing unintended pregnancy in 18- to 30-year-old women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmacy staff completed a 48-item, self-administered paper survey consisting of scaled and open-ended questions.
  
  
  METHODS
  55 community pharmacies in 12 Iowa counties.
  
  
  METHODS
  All pharmacy staff participated, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other pharmacy employees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online continuing education (CE) training was made available to all pharmacy staff. Promotional materials including posters, brochures, and shelf talkers were displayed in all of the pharmacies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmacy staff perceptions and self-reported behaviors related to displaying posters, brochures, and shelf talkers in their pharmacies and providing contraceptive information and counseling to patients/customers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 192 (43% return rate) pharmacy staff responded. Only 44% of respondents consistently provided contraceptive information and counseling, yet more than 90% felt that talking with patients/customers about contraceptives was easy, and more than 50% could do so privately. The study showed increased pharmacy staff desire to make this topic a priority.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Community pharmacy staff can play a key role in educating and counseling young adult women about contraceptive health and pregnancy planning. This study indicates that staff are comfortable providing this service and that patients/customers are open to receiving guidance from pharmacists. However, pharmacy staff are missing additional opportunities to provide information and counseling. There is also a need for greater attention to provision of nonprescription contraceptive education.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Batra
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Aquilino
authors.forename: Karen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Farris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology*; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents