Beyond Pills: Exploring Pharmacists’ Role in Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Services
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Year 2024
- Principal investigator Wendy Norman
- Co-lead(s) Cheryl Davies, BC's Women's Hospital & Health Centre
- Host institution University of British Columbia
- Research location BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre
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Team members
- Cheryl Davies, BC's Women's Hospital & Health Centre
- Enav Zusman, University of British Columbia
- Laura Schummers, University of British Columbia
- Rob Pammett, Northern Health Authority
- Hilary Rowe, Vancouver Island Health Authority
- Nikki Domanski, University of British Columbia, Pharmacists Clinic
- Janusz Kaczorowski, University of Montreal
- I Fan Kuo, Ministry of Health
- Althea Hayden, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Elizabeth Liu, Pure Integrative Pharmacy
- Bronte Johnston, University of British Columbia
- Agnes Kyamulabi, University of British Columbia
- Sabrina Lee, University of British Columbia
- Renee Hall, Willow Women's Clinic
- Suzanne Solven, College of Pharmacists of BC
- Theresa (Teri) Charrois, University of British Columbia
- Bryce Wong, BC Pharmacy Association
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Partner(s)
Pacific Public Health Foundation
Access to the most effective contraceptive methods (intrauterine devices or subdermal implants) is inequitable in BC. Many people are unable to reach a health professional able to insert them. Regulatory changes allowing BC pharmacists to prescribe contraception presents an opportunity to expand the role pharmacists could play to better meet BC’s needs.
BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre and our research team will host a one-day meeting of BC stakeholders and leaders to discuss any potential to expand the role of pharmacists to insert subdermal contraceptive implants. Participants will identify perspectives and provide insights on both the opportunities and facilitators as well as anticipated barriers and challenges associated with this potential expansion of pharmacy practice. A pre-meeting survey and series of stakeholder interviews (separately funded) will provide information to guide our discussion during the meeting.
Key sessions during the meeting will include interactive discussions and panels involving a diverse range of stakeholders, including health policy, regulatory and care leaders, patient groups, and health professionals. Conclusions from this meeting will inform potential next-steps to expand service access.