Impact of a primary care pharmacist intervention on pregnant women`s medication use: The SafeStart intervention study linked to a national prescription database

Abstract

Abstract Background Prior studies show that pharmacists’ consultations are highly appreciated by pregnant women and feasible in community pharmacies. However, it is unknown whether such counselling has an impact on medication use during pregnancy. Aim This study aimed to assess whether a pharmacist consultation in early pregnancy was associated with pregnant woman’s utilization of medications with focus on antiemetic medications. Methods The SafeStart study recruited Norwegian, pregnant women in the first trimester between February 2018 and February 2019. Women in the intervention group received a pharmacist consultation in a community pharmacy or by phone. An online follow-up questionnaire was completed 13 weeks after enrollment. Data from the SafeStart study was linked to the Norwegian Prescription Database. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between the pharmacists’ intervention and medication use in second trimester. Results The study included 103 women in the intervention group and 126 women in the control group. Overall prescription fills in the first and second trimester was 55.3% and 44.7% (intervention group) and 49.2% and 51.6% (control group), respectively, as registered in the Norwegian Prescription Database. In total, 16–20% of women in the first trimester and 21–27% of women in the second trimester had a prescription on antiemetic medication. The pharmacist intervention was not associated with women`s self-reported medication use nor prescribed medications in the second trimester. Conclusion The pharmacist consultation had no impact on pregnant women`s use of medications. Future pharmacist consultations should focus on other outcome factors, such as risk perception, knowledge level, and use of other healthcare services.