RPS Conference 2010, Abstracts 2010 - Royal Pharmaceutical Society

49
Young people's views about chlamydia testing in community pharmacy
Nathan Wood, Delyth James
Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University., Cardiff, United Kingdom
Focal points
• The aim of the study was to determine if people aged between 16-25 years old
are prepared to access the community pharmacy as a point of sexual health
advice for the diagnosis and treatment of Chlamydia infections.
• A self-completion questionnaire was designed and administered to young
people in this age group who presented with a prescription at one of three
community pharmacies or students attending a lecture at a further education
college.
• Of those surveyed 42.2% (n=70/166) did not realise that people under the age
of 25 are the most at risk of contracting Chlamydia and only 3% considered a
community pharmacy as a initial source for advice.
• Responders did not perceive themselves to be in the most at risk age group for
chlamydia and may not consider community pharmacists as an appropriate
source of help.
Introduction
Whilst chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI)
in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the UK, it is also the most curable. (1,2) It occurs most
frequently in young people aged 25 years old and under who are sexually active. Since
November 2008 Chlamydia testing kits and antibiotic treatment (if a positive test is obtained)
have been available to purchase from community pharmacies. (3) However, to date very little is
known about the extent to which this population is prepared to access community pharmacies
for this service. The aim of the study was to determine if people aged between 16-25 years old
are prepared to access the community pharmacy as a point of sexual health advice for the
diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia infections.
Method
A questionnaire was designed (based on themes generated from a focus group discussion and
literature search), piloted and then distributed to three community pharmacies and one further
education college in the Neath Port Talbot area between May and August 2009. The
questionnaire tested knowledge of Chlamydia (ten items with true/false responses) and
explored views about community pharmacies (eight items), Chlamydia testing (six items) and
Chlamydia testing located in pharmacies (five items) using a 5-point Likert scale. Potential
participants were identified and approached if they presented at the pharmacy with a
prescription (stating their age). All patients between 16-25 years of age were considered
eligible. Recruitment from the further education college was dependent upon student
attendance at one lecture of a healthcare related course.
Results