College Student Perceptions of Pharmacist-provided Hormonal Contraception

Background North Carolina immunizing pharmacists are authorized to provide oral and transdermal hormonal contraception to eligible patients. In March 2022, implementation of this enhanced patient care service began statewide, following approval of standing orders and published training from the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists. Two pharmacy locations on a college campus began offering pharmacist-provided hormonal contraception shortly after approval. Objective The objective of this study was to assess the willingness of students to seek pharmacist-provided hormonal contraception and the willingness of students to pay for this service. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on the campus of a public, research-intensive University. To be included, individuals must have been 18 years of age or older, an enrolled student, and used prescribed hormonal birth control within the last year. Individuals who declined consent or surveys that were not at least 90% complete were excluded. The survey was administered via Qualtrics and distributed via email and printed flyers with a QR code. The survey opened February 10, 2023, and closed April 24, 2023. Results In total, 170 survey responses were analyzed. Almost three-fourths of participants (72.9%) were not aware that pharmacists could provide hormonal contraception in North Carolina. All participants identified at least one benefit to pharmacist-provided contraception, with the most common responses being “I believe it would save time” (85.3%) and “appointment not needed” (89.4%). Almost two-thirds of participants (65.3%) identified at least one barrier that would prevent them from seeking pharmacist-provided contraception. The most common barrier identified was privacy at the pharmacy (20.0%). Most participants (81.8%) reported that they are willing to pay for this service, with the majority willing to pay up to $29. Conclusion Students on this campus appear to have a receptive attitude towards pharmacist-provided hormonal contraception and are willing to pay for a consultation.