Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116556

Nicole Monastersky, MPH and Sharon Cohen, MPH. Pharmacy Access Partnership, Public Health Institute, 614 Grand, Suite 324, Oakland, CA 94610, 510-272-0150, nmonastersky@phi.org

Convenience and enhanced access are reasons often given by women in selecting a birth control method. Women who use oral contraceptives as their method of birth control may receive a supply or prescription for up to a year, however women on injectable contraceptives are not offered the same convenience. In an effort to offer women on injectable contraceptives the same convenience, over the past two years 26 pharmacies and 19 clinics and medical offices (representing 8 geographical areas in California) have participated in a demonstration program whereby women who are Depo-Provera patients at participating clinics are given the option of getting their birth control shot from a pharmacist who has received appropriate training in injectable contraception administration or returning to the clinic.

This report describes evaluation data from various participant levels of satisfaction –consumer, pharmacist, and clinician – as well as injection records, to determine the acceptability and feasibility of the program's sustainability beyond the initial demonstration phase. This evaluation identifies the following: rationale given by women as motivation to adhere to their injectable contraceptive regimen, if providers – pharmacists and clinicians – are engaged in expanding points of access for birth control shots, and the potential for promoting the pharmacy as a point of service for Depo-Provera re-injections to a larger population.

Learning Objectives:

• At the session’s end, participants will 1.recognize the role that pharmacists can play in making it easier to maintain contraceptive adherence and thus avoid unintentional pregnancy 2.understand the priorities of women in accessing their birth control shot and 3.identify the motivating and limiting factors for pharmacists and providers to partner together to offer women increased access to birth control shots in the pharmacy.

Keywords: Partnerships, Contraception

Related Web page: www.healthstep.org/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commertial supporters WITH THE EXCEPTION OF I am an employee of Pharmacy Access Partnership..