Modelling costs and outcomes of expanded availability of emergency contraceptive use in British Columbia.

BACKGROUND: Emergency contraception (EC) can potentially reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortions. However, these agents are underused due to lack of awareness and barriers to utilization. While earlier economic evaluations have indicated that use of EC is potentially cost-effective, recent evidence of a lower risk of pregnancy following unprotected intercourse than previously reported suggest prior studies may have over-estimated cost savings. OBJECTIVES: To model cost savings and pregnancy-related outcomes associated with the policy change authorizing pharmacist provision of EC in British Columbia, and to estimate the costs of initiatives to further women's awareness and utilization of EC that would result. METHODS: Three decision analytic models were developed evaluating current EC utilization (physician-only), EC utilization following pharmacist provision and potential expanded EC awareness and utilization following a public awareness initiative. Models were developed from the Ministry of Health perspective for 2001 using cost and event data from the Ministry supplemented by data from the literature. RESULTS: Current EC utilization saved the Ministry $2.20 million (95% CR: $0.15 million, $4.90 million) in medical costs the first year, and incremental savings from pharmacist provision was $0.64 million (95% CR: $0.24 million, $1.28 million). A public awareness initiative costing less than $2.57 million (95% CR: $0.22 million, $5.75 million) annually is potentially cost saving. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacist provision of EC was cost saving to the Ministry, even when the estimated risk of pregnancy in the population is less than assumed in previous studies. Increasing EC availability directly from pharmacists and increasing EC awareness have the potential to reduce health care costs.

European Society of Contraception oral contraceptives survey update: birth control methods in "Europe of the 12".

The European Society of Contraception developed a survey to examine birth control methods in the 12 countries++ of the European Community. Responses to those questions relating to prescribing++ practices of oral contraceptives (OCs) are presented herein. The survey was sent to 400 physicians. One hundred two responded, most from France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. The responses revealed that the most popular OCs are modern combined formulations containing low doses of ethinyl estradiol and progestogens such as norgestimate, desogestrel, gestodene, and levonorgestrel. More than half of physicians prescribe a particular formulation because of its tolerability and 20% because of its hormonal content. More than 90% prescribe OCs to healthy, nonsmoking women over 40. However, three fourths will not prescribe OCs to smokers over 35. Half of physicians recommend mammography for their older OC patients. Half also recommend cholesterol screening, but 8% only for women over 30. Most physicians are no longer reluctant to prescribe OCs to their diabetic patients: 61% prescribe OCs for women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes, 56% for those with insulin-dependent diabetes, and 85% for those with a history of gestational diabetes. Despite recent studies showing no relation between past OC use and cardiovascular disease, 42% of physicians said that their greatest OC-related health concern is cardiovascular disease. One third cited noncompliance as their greatest concern. These results reveal inhomogeneous prescribing practices for OCs among European physicians. ¿Over-screening¿--not prescribing the pill because of perceived (but not necessarily real) health risks--may be depriving many women of the contraceptive and noncontraceptive benefits of OCs. Complete and accurate information--as promoted by the European Society of Contraception--is one way to combat such overscreening.

PIP: Findings are presented from the 1993 European Society of Contraception Oral Contraceptive Survey conducted in 12 member countries among 102 physicians. Findings are considered suggestive because of the low response rate of 25% to the mailed questionnaire to 400 physicians. The aim is to determine the prescribing practices of oral contraceptives. Over 50% of physicians prescribed the following modern, low-dose combined formulations: Marvelon, Mercilon, Minulet, Gynera, Cilest, and Femodene. 66% of physicians prescribed monophasic pills containing 20-30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and low doses of desogestrel, gestodene, levonorgestrel, or norgestimate. 58% preferred oral pills because of their tolerability. Other desirable features were the cost, hormonal content, and other factors. 94% prescribed oral pills for women aged over 40 years who were healthy and did not smoke. 75% would not prescribe oral pills to women who were over the age of 35 years and who smoked. Over 50% of physicians recommended mammograms for women aged over 35 years who used oral pills. 45% routinely performed lipoprotein screening of oral pill users. 8% did so only for patients aged over 30 years. 42 physicians out of the 102 responding had a protocol based on the total cholesterol level. 61% prescribed oral pills for women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The majority prescribed oral pills for women with insulin-dependent diabetes. 38% of physicians who prescribed oral pills for women with diabetes prescribed very-low-dose monophasic oral contraceptives. 85% prescribed oral pills for women with gestational diabetes. 42% were concerned about patient risk of cardiovascular disease. The study revealed a range of practices among physicians.

A consumer intercept study of oral contraceptive users in the Dominican Republic.

Purchasers of a low-cost oral contraceptive were intercepted and interviewed in a sample of Santo Domingo pharmacies that represented the highest sales of the product, yet also reflected the socioeconomic profile of the city's entire population. Users of the contraceptive were later interviewed in greater depth in their homes. The survey of users showed that the Dominican Republic's social marketing program, implemented by PROFAMILIA, was reaching an appropriate target market--that is, younger, lower-middle-class women of low parity. The program was, in addition, successful in attracting first-time adopters, and it was also expanding the overall commercial market for all contraceptives. The marketing campaign was successful in part because a mass audience was reached, through brief television spots. Program impact on contraceptive prevalence can be assessed from sales data.

PIP: Purchasers of a low-cost oral contraceptive were intercepted and interviewed (449 pharmacy interviews in a sample of pharmacies in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, that represented the highest sales of the product, yet also reflected the socioeconomic profile of the city's entire population. Contraceptive users were later interviewed in greater depth in 252 home interviews. The survey showed that the Dominican Republic's social marketing program, implemented by PROFAMILIA, was reaching appropriate target market, that is, younger, lower middle class women of low parity. The program was also successful in attracting 1-time contraceptive users, and it was expanding the overall commercial market for all contraceptives. The marketing campaign was successful in part because a mass audience was reached with brief television spots. It is concluded that program impact on contraceptive prevalence can be assessed from sales data.