Connecticut Comprehensive Contraceptive Education for the Pharmacist

Comprehensive Contraceptive Education:

This course is approved by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection/Drug Control Division as required education to prescribe contraceptives in the state of Connecticut.

Pharmacists are now in the position to improve access by starting or continuing a patient on any form of hormonal contraception.

This training program has received significant support and guidance from several OBGYN members of ACOG. It is specifically designed to give pharmacists the tools needed to be confident and successful in prescribing and monitoring self-administered hormonal contraception and utilizing the Self-screening Risk Assessment and Contraceptive Assessment Treatment Care Pathway, each based on the US MEC. The training thoroughly educates the pharmacist in all FDA-approved methods of contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, contraindications, drug interactions, contraceptive counseling, and when to refer patients to medical providers.

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education Information:

This program has been planned and implemented in accordance with the policies of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education through the sponsorship of OSU College of Pharmacy. The OSU College of Pharmacy is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Upon completion of this activity, participants will receive a Statement of Completion, and a Statement of Credit shall be uploaded to CPE Monitor. Completion requires 1) Registration for the course 2) Completion of all modules 3) Passing a final exam with 80% or higher and 4) Completion of the program evaluation.

At the completion of this activity, pharmacists will be able to:
1) Work with an individual woman to choose the best and most effective contraceptive method for her.
2) Build a strong knowledge base for hormonal contraceptives including the mechanism of action, doses, types, use, benefits, and risks.
3) Effectively counsel patients on the importance of adherence, missed pills, interactions, and side effects of combined hormonal contraceptives.
4) Recognize the purpose of the self-assessment questionnaire, and how it relates to the US Medical Eligible Criteria guidelines published by the CDC.
5) Assess an individual woman's risk when compared to the benefits of combined hormonal contraceptions in order to determine whether or not she should be referred to her women's health provider.
6) Utilize tools that will aid in how to incorporate a service that provides hormonal contraception to women at a community pharmacy or ambulatory care site.
7) Compare DMPA to other "self-administered" hormonal contraceptive methods including the oral pill, the transdermal patch, and the vaginal ring.
8) Evaluate the risks associated with DMPA, and other progestin-only methods, for a given patient in order to determine her eligibility for use.

At the completion of this activity, pharmacy technicians will be able to:
1) Discuss the types of contraceptives and explain why some may be more effective for different patients.
2) Describe the mechanism of action, doses, types, use, benefits, and risks of hormonal contraceptives.
3) Explain the role of emergency contraception when used by itself and how it can be incorporated into ongoing contraceptive plans.
4) Discuss the importance of adherence, missed doses, interactions, and side effects of all self-administered hormonal contraceptives, including combined hormonal contraceptives, progestin-only pills, and progestin injection (DMPA).
5) Recognize the purpose of the self-assessment questionnaire and how it relates to the US Medical Eligibility Criteria guidelines published by the CDC.
6) Distinguish the risks when compared to the benefits of self-administered hormonal contraception.
7) Utilize tools to help incorporate hormonal contraception services at a community pharmacy.

UAN: 0036-0000-25-334-H01-P/T
Target Audience: Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians licensed in Connecticut
Activity Type: Application
Activity Release Date: 6/28/25
Activity Expiration Date: 6/28/28
Contributors: Lorinda Anderson, PharmD, BCPS; Mark Leid, PhD, BPharm; Adriane Irwin, MS, PharmD, BCACP
Disclosures: None of the contributors, designers, or peer reviewers for this course have any financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose