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Document Type:	Artigo
Title:	Use of simulated patients to evaluate combined oral contraceptive dispensing practices of community pharmacists
Authors:	Obreli Neto, Paulo Roque Pereira, Leonardo Régis Leira Guidoni, Camilo Molino Baldoni, André de Oliveira Marusic, Srecko Lyra Júnior, Divaldo Pereira de Almeida, Kelsen Luis de Pazete, Ana Claudia Montolezi Nascimento, Janaina Dutra do Kos, Mitja Girotto, Edmarlon Cuman, Roberto Kenji Nakamura
Issue Date:	Dec-2013
Resumo :	Background: Combined oral contraceptive (COC) use is the most commonly used reversible method of birth control. The incorrect use of COCs is frequent and one of the most common causes of unintended pregnancies. Community pharmacists (CPs) are in a strategic position to improve COC use because they are the last health professional to interact with patients before drug use. Objective: To evaluate the COC dispensing practices of CPs in a developing country. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in community pharmacies of Assis and Ourinhos microregions, Brazil, between June 1, 2012, and October 30, 2012. Four simulated patients (SPs) (with counseled audio recording) visited community pharmacies with a prescription for Ciclo 21® (a COC containing ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg + levonorgestrel 15 mcg). The audio recording of every SP visit was listened to independently by 3 researchers to evaluate the COC dispensing practice. The percentage of CPs who performed a screening for safe use of COCs (i.e., taking of patients’ medical and family history, and measuring of blood pressure) and provided counseling, as well as the quality of the screening and counseling, were evaluated. Results: Of the 185 CPs contacted, 41 (22.2%) agreed to participate in the study and finished the study protocol. Only 3 CPs asked the SP a question (1 question asked by each professional), and all of the questions were closedended, viz., “do you smoke?” (n = 2) and “what is your age?” (n = 1). None of the CPs measured the patient’s blood pressure. Six CPs provided counseling when dispensing COCs (drug dosing, 5 CPs; possible adverse effects, 2 CPs), and one CP provided counseling regarding both aspects. Conclusion: The CPs evaluated did not dispense COC appropriately and could influence in the occurrence of negatives therapeutic outcomes such as adverse effects and treatment failure.
Keywords:	Combined oral contraceptive Community pharmacists Birth control
ISSN:	1932-6203
Is part of:	PloS One
Language:	eng
Publisher / Institution :	Public Library of Science
Citation:	OBRELI NETO, P. R. et al. Use of simulated patients to evaluate combined oral contraceptive dispensing practices of community pharmacists. PloS one, San Francisco, v. 8, n. 12, e79875, dez. 2013. Disponível em: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/authors?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0079875. Acesso em: 12 nov. 2025.
License:	Creative Commons Atribuição 3.0 Não Adaptada (CC BY 3.0)
URI:	https://ri.ufs.br/jspui/handle/riufs/23846
Appears in Collections:	DFA - Artigos de periódicos

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