Nona, Ruth, Glass, Beverley, Ray, Robin, and Taylor, Selina (2025) Emergency contraception: Do Australian pharmacists have the knowledge and practices to optimise outcomes. Pharmacy Education, 25 (7). p. 62.

PDF (Abstract only) - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

Introduction: Around 40% of pregnancies in Australia are unintended, with women living in rural and remote areas being 1.4 times more likely to experience unwanted pregnancy, associated with social disadvantage and reduced availability and access to reproductive healthcare. (Rowe et al., 2016; Shankar et al., 2023) In Australia, emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) first became available without prescription in 2004, and currently two types of ECP are available over the counter in Australian pharmacies. Pharmacists’ lack of knowledge has been reported to impact their practice and thus customer outcomes. (Nona et al., 2024) Recommendations are that knowledge of current and future pharmacists should be addressed in relation to changing demands on time and scope of practice. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and practices of Australian community pharmacists in the provision of over-the-counter ECP. Methods: This study applied data gathered though semi structured interviews conducted with Australian community pharmacists engaged in the supply of over-the-counter emergency hormonal contraception. Exploration of their knowledge, experiences in practice provided qualitative data that was inductively and deductively coded and themed against a modified Theoretical Domains Framework. Results: Seventeen pharmacists, practicing in all regions from metropolitan to very remote locations across Australia participated. Analysis highlighted themes including benefit v risk, choice of ECP, guideline use and underprepared for ECP. Participants described a lack of current ECP knowledge which they correlated with limited time and resource access, alongside complacency and the reliance on acquired knowledge and professional judgement. They also acknowledged minimal updates in their education since their university studies. Conclusion: Pharmacists recognise gaps in their knowledge of ECP, impacted by the failure to appreciate the need for ongoing professional development. Future research into pharmacists’ practices and guidelines to inform that practice is recommended.

Item ID:	94063
Item Type:	Article (Abstract)
ISSN:	1477-2701
Related URLs:	https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2025.257.167
Copyright Information:	© 2025 FIP
Date Deposited:	28 Sep 2026 22:54
FoR Codes:	42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4203 Health services and systems > 420319 Primary health care @ 50% 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3214 Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences > 321403 Clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice @ 50%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2001 Clinical health > 200199 Clinical health not elsewhere classified @ 100%
	More Statistics