Examining community-based pharmacists’ perceptions of the implementation of Arizona’s standing order for hormonal contraception

Abstract

Specific Aims: To evaluate the awareness and attitudes of community-based Arizona pharmacists and identify perceived barriers and facilitators associated with the Arizona contraceptive standing order. Methods: An online survey was emailed to licensed community-based pharmacists practicing in Arizona from September 2024 to February 2025. An optional follow-up interview was offered to gather further insight. The survey collected demographics, assessed awareness, confidence, and comfort in the standing order, and asked participants to rank perceived benefits, concerns, and barriers related to implementation. Chi-Square and ANOVA analyses were conducted using SPSS software. Results: Surveys were completed by 42 pharmacists, of which the majority were not male (67%) and aged less than 40 years (67%). The majority of respondents expressed awareness of (73.8%), support for (88.1%), and confidence in utilizing (52.4%) the standing order. The primary perceived benefit was increased access to contraceptives (average rank 1.37), while the time needed to meet with patients was the top concern (average rank 2.56). The top barrier for implementation was the time required for planning, training and execution (average rank 2.27). Incidental findings found that those aged 40 years or older and those with 10 or more years of licensure ranked the benefit of preventing unintended pregnancies higher (p = 0.036, 0.022), while those aged under 40 years or those with under 10 years of licensure ranked job satisfaction higher (p = 0.027, 0.042). Conclusions: Surveyed pharmacists expressed awareness and support of the Arizona contraceptive standing order and identified barriers and facilitators for implementation.