The use of oral contraceptive pharmaceutical sample packs by adolescent health care providers.
Abstract Study Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand how health care providers use and distribute oral contraceptive pill (OCP) sample packs to adolescents. Design: Qualitative study involving face-to-face structured interviews. Setting: Interviews lasted approximately 20–30 minutes and were done in the health care provider's office setting. Participants: A convenience sample of fourteen health care providers (pediatricians, family practitioners, nurse practitioners, and midwives) who have practices that include adolescents were interviewed. Main Outcome Measures: Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Two independent reviewers read the transcripts for themes. Transcripts were then coded and frequency counts were done. Conclusions: OCP sample packs are an important tool for education and compliance. The pharmaceutical OCP sample supply may influence the health care provider's OCP choice for a teen.
As a junior doctor, aside from the predictable daily tasks, I found an all too familiar request from many patients. “Doctor, I had a terrible night’s sleep, you couldn’t prescribe me something could you?” My colleagues were surprised at the frequency of this request—patients’ sleep not being a subject covered in detail when we were medical students. But, whether it’s a nurse thrusting a drug chart in front of us to request sleeping tablets or a …