The present study evaluates the impact of an educational initiative involving pharmacists on the uptake of Cu-IUDs for EC in an integrated sexual health clinic in the North East of England.
Local pharmacists have received intensive education detailing EC options, including Cu-IUDs. Simultaneously, a rapid access referral pathway for the fitting of an emergency Cu-IUD was established. This initiative’s impact has been assessed by analyzing case notes of women attending a large city center sexual health service who received an emergency Cu-IUD during September and October 2010 and the same two months in 2011.
The number of women fitted with an emergency Cu-IUD increased by almost three-fold, from 11 provided in September and October 2010 to 30 fit in these two months. One woman was referred from a pharmacist to the service in the first audit period compared with 17 in the second. No pregnancies occurred in the first month after Cu-IUD insertion in these 41 women.
The study concluded that educating pharmacists has increased referral and uptake of Cu-IUD used for EC. This has the potential to reduce unintended pregnancies now and in the future.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/40/1/41
