The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and acceptability of mifepristone abortion medicine provided by pharmacists.
From July 2018 to March 2020, researchers performed a prospective cohort study at eight clinical locations and pharmacies in California and Washington State. Participating pharmacies’ pharmacists received a one-hour training on medication abortion. They addressed individuals who had already been examined, informed, and consented to medication abortion in accordance with the standard of care. Patients who agreed to participate in the trial provided permission, and the doctor electronically transmitted a prescription to the pharmacist for mifepristone 200 mg orally, followed by misoprostol 800 micrograms buccally 24–48 hours later. On days 2 and 14 after enrolment, participants were issued web-based questions regarding their experience and outcomes, and they had a routine follow-up with research sites. The researchers gathered demographic and clinical data from medical records, including abortion results and adverse events. They used multivariable logistic regression to examine the relationship between pharmacy experience and other variables and satisfaction.
They enrolled 266 people and collected clinical outcome data on 262 (98.5%) of them, two of whom did not take either medicine. Day 2 and 14 questionnaires were completed by 252 (96.9%) and 237 (91.2%) of the 260 individuals who had abortion outcome information, respectively. For 243 participants (93.5%, 95% CI 89.7–96.1%). Four participants (1.5%, 95% CI 0.4–3.9%) of the subjects, complete medication abortion occurred. Four individuals experienced a negative occurrence, none of which were significant or connected to pharmacist dispensing. In the second study, 91.3% (95% CI 87.1–94.4%) of individuals said they were satisfied with their drugstore experience. In the day 14 polls, 84.4% (95% CI 79.1–88.8%) of respondents said they were satisfied with their medication abortion experience. Those who reported being highly happy with their drugstore encounter were more likely to indicate overall satisfaction with pharmaceutical abortion (adjusted odds ratio 2.96, 95% CI 1.38–6.32).
Mifepristone distribution by pharmacists for prescription abortion was efficacious and patient-acceptable, with a low rate of side effects.
