Objectives Pharmacists are increasingly providing patient-focused services in community pharmacies, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Specific SRH areas have been the focus of research, but a broader perspective is needed to position pharmacists as SRH providers. This review explored research that described and evaluated professional pharmacy services across a broad range of SRH areas. Design Scoping review Data sources Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library (January 2007–July 2020). Study selection Studies reporting on the description and evaluation of professional pharmacy SRH services provided by community pharmacists. Data extraction Two investigators screened studies for eligibility, and one investigator extracted the data. Data were analysed to primarily describe professional pharmacy services and intervention outcomes. Results Forty-one studies were included. The main SRH areas and professional pharmacy services reported were sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections (63%) and screening (39%), respectively. Findings showed that pharmacists’ delivery of SRH services was feasible, able to reach vulnerable and high-risk groups, and interventions were highly accepted and valued by users. However, integration into daily workflow, pharmacist remuneration, cost and reimbursement for patients, and policy regulations were some of the barriers identified to implementing SRH services. Studies were primarily in specific areas such as chlamydia screening or hormonal contraception prescribing, while studies in other areas (ie, medical abortion provision, long-acting reversible contraception prescribing and vaccine delivery in pregnant women) were lacking. Conclusion This scoping review highlights the expansion of pharmacists’ roles beyond traditional product-focused services in a number of SRH areas. Given the potential feasibility, users’ acceptability and reach, pharmacists are ideally situated to enhance SRH care access. Future research describing implementation and evaluation of professional pharmacy services in all SRH areas is needed to promote access to these services through community pharmacies and position pharmacists as SRH providers worldwide.

Access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services remains a challenge worldwide. Describing community pharmacists’ SRH services in countries with different scopes of practice will aid in understanding how pharmacists view their roles and how to support them in providing needed services. A cross-sectional web-based survey was administered to pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Japan, Thailand, and Canada. The survey covered 7 SRH categories: pregnancy tests, ovulation tests, contraception, emergency contraception, sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, maternal and perinatal health, and general sexual health. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. A total of 922 eligible responses were included in the analysis (Japan = 534, Thailand = 85, and Canada = 303). Most Thai and Canadian participants reported dispensing hormonal contraceptives (Thailand = 99%, Canada = 98%) and emergency contraceptive pills (Thailand = 98%, Canada = 97%). Most Japanese participants provided patient education on barrier contraceptives for men (56%) and information on the safety of medications in pregnancy (74%) and breastfeeding (76%). The majority of participants expressed interest in additional training and expanding their roles in SRH. Sharing international experiences can guide challenges faced by the evolution of pharmacists’ practice in SRH. Providing pharmacists support could help their readiness for this role.

The provision of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services is an important part of a community pharmacist’s role in many countries. However, such services are not traditionally provided by pharmacists in Japan. We surveyed the practice and attitudes regarding the provision of SRH services among Japanese community pharmacists with a focus on reproductive health (RH) topics. The participants were asked about the provision of RH services, attitudes toward their role as SRH providers, and self-reported confidence in providing education to patients on RH topics. We obtained 534 effective responses. About half of the participants reported providing RH services, and only 21% were involved in dispensing emergency contraception pills. Although the proportion of pharmacists providing education on these topics was considerably lower, about 80% recognized the importance of their role as SRH advisors. Confidence in providing patient education about RH topics depended on their experience in providing such services. Most participants were interested in additional SRH training (80%). Our results suggest that training programs could help to expand Japanese community pharmacists’ roles as SRH providers and increase their confidence in the education of patients. This study provides useful insights to expand pharmacists’ roles in Japan as providers of comprehensive SRH services.

Background: Pharmacists in many countries have long been involved in some aspect of assisted dying. Since 2016, when Canada enacted legislation permitting medical assistance in dying (MAiD), the number of patients seeking the procedure has increased yearly. Despite the global nature of pharmacists’ involvement, little is known about how they experience MAiD practice. Objective: To study how pharmacists experience the practice of caring for patients who seek MAiD. Methods: This qualitative study used semistructured interviews with pharmacists who had cared for patients seeking MAiD. Interviews, conducted between June 2019 and October 2020, were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were examined using a modified framework analysis approach. Data were coded and sorted using Quirkos and Microsoft Excel software. Themes were defined through an iterative process involving constant comparison. Results: Nineteen hospital pharmacists representing a range of practice settings in Alberta participated in the study. The experience of caring for patients seeking assistance in dying brought to light 3 themes: finding a place in the process, serving in a caring role, and bearing emotional burdens. Pharmacists’ experiences were personal, relational, emotional, and dynamic. Conclusions: Each of the pharmacists experienced MAiD practice in a unique way. Although their roles in MAiD were primarily medication-focused, their experiences highlighted the centrality of patient choices, autonomy, and needs. The results of this study will inform pharmacists (including those not yet engaged in MAiD practice) about the role, and will also be valuable for pharmacy organizations and educators seeking to support pharmacists and the profession, as well as policy-makers seeking to expand pharmacists’ roles in MAiD. RÉSUMÉ Contexte : Les pharmaciens de nombreux pays participent depuis longtemps à certains aspects de l’aide médicale à mourir (AMM). Depuis que le Canada a adopté une loi l’autorisant en 2016, le nombre de patients qui demandent l’intervention a augmenté chaque année. Malgré la nature mondiale de l’implication des pharmaciens, on sait peu de choses sur la façon dont ils vivent la pratique de l’AMM. Objectif : Étudier comment les pharmaciens vivent la pratique de la prise en charge des patients qui sollicitent l’AMM. Méthodes : Cette étude qualitative a utilisé des entretiens semi-structurés avec des pharmaciens qui avaient pris en charge des patients ayant fait une demande d’AMM. Un enregistrement sonore des entretiens, menés entre juin 2019 et octobre 2020, a été effectué et ils ont été transcrits mot à mot. Les données ont été examinées en adoptant une approche d’analyse du cadre modifié. Les données ont été codées et triées à l’aide des logiciels Quirkos et Microsoft Excel. Les thèmes ont été définis par un processus itératif impliquant une comparaison constante. Résultats : Dix-neuf pharmaciens d’hôpitaux représentant un éventail de milieux de pratique en Alberta ont participé à l’étude. L’expérience de la prise en charge de patients cherchant à recevoir l’aide médicale à mourir a mis en lumière 3 thèmes : trouver sa place dans le processus; jouer un rôle de proche aidant; et supporter des charges émotionnelles. Les expériences des pharmaciens étaient personnelles, relationnelles, émotionnelles et dynamiques. Conclusions : Chaque pharmacien a vécu la pratique de l’AMM d’une manière unique. Bien que leurs rôles dans l’AMM étaient principalement axés sur la médication, leurs expériences ont mis en évidence la centralité des choix, de l’autonomie et des besoins des patients. Les résultats de cette étude informeront les pharmaciens (y compris ceux qui ne sont pas encore engagés dans la pratique de l’AMM) sur le rôle. Ils seront également précieux pour les organismes pharmaceutiques et les éducateurs cherchant à soutenir les pharmaciens et la profession, ainsi que pour les décideurs politiques qui cherchent à élargir les rôles de pharmaciens dans l’AMM.

Introduction The disparities and risk trajectories experienced by people who use drugs (PWUD) highlight the critical need for equity-oriented strategies. Pharmacy staff (pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistants) make essential contributions to public health, and their role in the response to the drug overdose crisis can be understood as an extension of their public health role. Their involvement in overdose prevention strategies, such as take-home naloxone programmes and prescribed opioid medication management, has been documented. Still, their role in harm reduction services for PWUD has yet to be mapped. This gap has led to challenges when implementing harm reduction services in pharmacy-related settings. This review aims to summarise literature that focuses on the implementation of harm reduction services for PWUD provided by pharmacy staff. Methods and analysis This scoping review will adhere to the Arksey and O’Malley framework for conducting scoping reviews. The electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, SCOPUS and Google Scholar were searched on 4 June 2024, using terms related to pharmacy staff, PWUD and harm reduction services. This review will consider peer-reviewed literature in English, Spanish and French focused on describing or evaluating the implementation of harm reduction services for PWUD by pharmacy staff. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts and conduct the full-text screening to determine eligibility. Findings will be presented as a narrative summary and supported by tabular and graphical formats. Knowledge partner engagement will guide all steps in this study. Ethics and dissemination Formal ethical approval is not required, as primary human or animal data will not be collected. A manuscript summarising the results will be written and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. Other outlets for dissemination will include local presentations and conference presentations. Trial registration details Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/vn6ht).