Contraception provided over the counter by pharmacists: What do pharmacists think?

Internationally, in an attempt to increase accessibility, improve continuation, and reduce costs, there is a move to provide a wider range of contraceptive products over the counter by pharmacists. This qualitative study will explore the views of pharmacists regarding the provision of over-the-counter contraception in the Australian context. This project sits within SPHERE, an NHMRC-funded Centre of Research Excellence in Sexual and Reproductive Health for Women in Primary Care. This is the first dedicated Centre to lead research that is aimed at improving the quality, safety, and capacity of primary health care services to achieve better outcomes in women’s sexual and reproductive health. SPHERE is led by Professor Danielle Mazza and supported by multidisciplinary students and researchers within SPHERE as well as in the Department of General Practice. Students working under SPHERE will be supported by the research team, which consists of Post Docs, PhD students, academic registrars and honours students. They will also have the opportunity to be part of a large, multidisciplinary, collaborative team of investigators, which includes prominent national and international researchers and experts working in women’s health, general practice, pharmacy, nursing, epidemiology, knowledge translation, health economics, and policy development. This study would be suitable for BMedSci, BBiomed Sci and Pharmacy or other honours students or as a Masters of Public Health research project.