Self‐reported risk factors for chlamydia: a survey of pharmacy‐based emergency contraception consumers. (28th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gudka, Sajni; Bourdin, Aline; Watkins, Kim; Eshghabadi, Atefeh; Everett, Alan; Clifford, Rhonda M.
• Is Part Of: International journal of pharmacy practice. Volume 22:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 13
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2013-05-28
• Subjects: Pharmacy -- Practice -- Periodicals; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1111/ijpp.12042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-7671

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ijpp12042-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To investigate the self‐reported risk factors for <italic>Chlamydia trachomatis</italic> in pharmacy‐based emergency contraception (EC) consumers, evaluate their pharmacy experience and determine whether they would be willing to accept a chlamydia test from the pharmacy.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijpp12042-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A survey for women to complete after their EC consultation was developed from themes identified in a literature search. Nineteen pharmacies in the Perth metropolitan region and 13 pharmacies in rural, regional and remote Western Australia (WA) participated in this study.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijpp12042-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Key findings</title> <p>From the 113 surveys completed (<italic>n</italic> = 75 from Perth metropolitan; <italic>n</italic> = 38 from rural, regional and remote WA), 85% of respondents were between 16 and 29 years of age and all (100%) of the women had inconsistent barrier contraception. Almost all (94%) of the women had at least two, and nearly half (47%) had at least three out of the four risk factors for chlamydia. Nearly 70% of the women found it very easy/easy to access a pharmacy and felt very comfortable/comfortable discussing EC with the pharmacist. Significantly more women said they would be willing to accept a chlamydia test from a rural, regional and remote WA pharmacy than from a Perth metropolitan pharmacy (<italic>P</italic> = 0.003).</p> </sec> <sec id="ijpp12042-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Pharmacy‐based EC consumers are at high risk of chlamydia and would be willing to accept a chlamydia test from the pharmacy. There is an urgent need to re‐orientate health services in Australia so that all EC consumers, including those obtaining EC from pharmacies, have the opportunity to be tested for chlamydia.</p> </sec> </abstract>