The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #42508

Dawn S. Chin-Quee, PhD, MPH¹, Maxine D. Wedderburn², and Deborah Wedderburn². (1) Health Services Research, Family Health International, 2224 E. NC Highway 54, Durham, NC 27713, (919) 544-7040, dchin-quee@fhi.org, (2) HOPE Enterprises, Ltd., 7-7a Tangerine Place, Kingston 10, Jamaica

Background: The commercial sector has become an important provider of OCs in several countries and is likely to increase in importance worldwide. Can women obtain the necessary information and counseling on pill use, possible side effects and their management in an over-the-counter setting? Methods: Surveys of pharmacists and client intercept interviews were conducted in pharmacies in Kingston, Jamaica. Mystery client observations were also conducted in pharmacies and public sector clinics in the Kingston area, employing the profiles of three potential new pill clients (a smoker, a hypertensive, an adolescent) and a continuing user experiencing nausea. All four mystery clients sought information from pharmacists and providers in public sector clinics, respectively, in order to compare the quality of information given to clients in both settings. Results: Most clients intercepted at the study pharmacies were continuing OC users who often did not seek information from pharmacists. However, mystery client observations revealed that providers in public sector clinics did a better job of explaining how to take OCs, how they work, and to probe for potential contraindications for use than their pharmacy counterparts. Conclusion: Commercial sector providers of OCs should be sensitized to the importance of providing information to pill clients, especially new clients seeking their advice.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate whether women who purchase pills without a prescription are informed about proper use, side effects, and management of side effects.
• Compare the quality of information provided to pill clients in pharmacies with pill clients in clinics.
• Discuss the implications of less than optimal quality of information for over the counter pill clients.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Contraceptives

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.