Development of a Protocol Using the Delphi Method for the ad interim Supply of Hormonal Contraceptives in Swiss Pharmacies
(1) <b>Background:</b> Pharmacists are often challenged with situations where women are already on hormonal contraceptives (HC) but have no valid prescription. By Swiss law, pharmacists are allowed to supply prescription-only drugs in exceptional situations without a physician’s prescrip...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Pharmacy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/10/6/168 |
| _version_ | 1797455701701820416 |
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| author | Tamara Yous Esther Spinatsch Samuel Allemann Monika Lutters |
| author_facet | Tamara Yous Esther Spinatsch Samuel Allemann Monika Lutters |
| author_sort | Tamara Yous |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) <b>Background:</b> Pharmacists are often challenged with situations where women are already on hormonal contraceptives (HC) but have no valid prescription. By Swiss law, pharmacists are allowed to supply prescription-only drugs in exceptional situations without a physician’s prescription. Because eligibility for HC can change, women at risk for complications, such as serious side effects, need to be identified. We aimed to develop a protocol to assist pharmacists in clarifying and documenting eligibility for HC. (2) <b>Methods</b>: We conducted a survey using the Delphi method to identify relevant clarifications and develop a protocol for pharmacists. Proposed material was created based on the literature and existing toolkits/protocols aimed at verifying eligibility for HC. A multidisciplinary expert panel, consisting of gynecologists and pharmacists, reviewed the proposed material and provided anonymized feedback over two survey cycles. (3) <b>Results:</b> This Delphi survey revealed items essential to the clarification of eligibility for HC in pharmacies for women who are already using it. This resulted in a protocol that maps “best practices” regarding these ad interim supplies of HC given without a prescription in Switzerland. (4) <b>Conclusions</b>: This survey, made using the Delphi method, allowed us to create a protocol for pharmacists that aims to verify and document eligibility for HC in Switzerland, where HC is frequently supplied without a prescription. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:57:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-217c23e61c074521aae04ad868ac10d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-4787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:57:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmacy |
| spelling | doaj.art-217c23e61c074521aae04ad868ac10d52023-11-24T17:23:35ZengMDPI AGPharmacy2226-47872022-12-0110616810.3390/pharmacy10060168Development of a Protocol Using the Delphi Method for the ad interim Supply of Hormonal Contraceptives in Swiss PharmaciesTamara Yous0Esther Spinatsch1Samuel Allemann2Monika Lutters3Department of Medical Sciences, Private Universität of the Principality of Liechtenstein, 9495 Triesen, LiechtensteinPharmaceutical Care Research Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandPharmaceutical Care Research Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandHospital Pharmacy, Cantonal Hospital of Aarau, 5001 Aarau, Switzerland(1) <b>Background:</b> Pharmacists are often challenged with situations where women are already on hormonal contraceptives (HC) but have no valid prescription. By Swiss law, pharmacists are allowed to supply prescription-only drugs in exceptional situations without a physician’s prescription. Because eligibility for HC can change, women at risk for complications, such as serious side effects, need to be identified. We aimed to develop a protocol to assist pharmacists in clarifying and documenting eligibility for HC. (2) <b>Methods</b>: We conducted a survey using the Delphi method to identify relevant clarifications and develop a protocol for pharmacists. Proposed material was created based on the literature and existing toolkits/protocols aimed at verifying eligibility for HC. A multidisciplinary expert panel, consisting of gynecologists and pharmacists, reviewed the proposed material and provided anonymized feedback over two survey cycles. (3) <b>Results:</b> This Delphi survey revealed items essential to the clarification of eligibility for HC in pharmacies for women who are already using it. This resulted in a protocol that maps “best practices” regarding these ad interim supplies of HC given without a prescription in Switzerland. (4) <b>Conclusions</b>: This survey, made using the Delphi method, allowed us to create a protocol for pharmacists that aims to verify and document eligibility for HC in Switzerland, where HC is frequently supplied without a prescription.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/10/6/168pharmaceutical servicepharmacist prescribingcommunity pharmacybirth controleligibility for contraceptivescontraception |
| spellingShingle | Tamara Yous Esther Spinatsch Samuel Allemann Monika Lutters Development of a Protocol Using the Delphi Method for the ad interim Supply of Hormonal Contraceptives in Swiss Pharmacies Pharmacy pharmaceutical service pharmacist prescribing community pharmacy birth control eligibility for contraceptives contraception |
| title | Development of a Protocol Using the Delphi Method for the ad interim Supply of Hormonal Contraceptives in Swiss Pharmacies |
| title_full | Development of a Protocol Using the Delphi Method for the ad interim Supply of Hormonal Contraceptives in Swiss Pharmacies |
| title_fullStr | Development of a Protocol Using the Delphi Method for the ad interim Supply of Hormonal Contraceptives in Swiss Pharmacies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a Protocol Using the Delphi Method for the ad interim Supply of Hormonal Contraceptives in Swiss Pharmacies |
| title_short | Development of a Protocol Using the Delphi Method for the ad interim Supply of Hormonal Contraceptives in Swiss Pharmacies |
| title_sort | development of a protocol using the delphi method for the ad interim supply of hormonal contraceptives in swiss pharmacies |
| topic | pharmaceutical service pharmacist prescribing community pharmacy birth control eligibility for contraceptives contraception |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/10/6/168 |
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