STUDY OF THE AWARENESS OF PHARMACY VISITORS AND PHARMACY SPECIALISTS REGARDING THE SIDE EFFECTS OF COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AND APPROACHES TO IMPROVING PHARMACEUTICAL CARE AT THEIR DISCHARGE FROM THE PHARMACY

The purpose – to investigate the awareness of pharmacy visitors, pharmacists andpharmacists’ assistants, who discharge them. regarding the side effects of the combinedoral contraceptives (COCs) and to propose approaches to improving pharmaceuticalcare during their discharge.Methods of scientific research. In order to study the awareness of pharmacy visitors andpharmacy specialists regarding the side effects of combined oral contraceptives, a survey ofthese groups of respondents was conducted using questionnaires developed by the authors.Results. The survey results show that pharmacy visitors were familiar with such possible sideeffects of COC as hypertension and cardiovascular disease (12 % of respondents), migraine(8 %), depression and mood disorders (6 %), risk of developing cancer (2 %) and only 1 percent were concerned about an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Regarding the needto take into account the feasibility of co-administration of COCs with other medications taken by 87 % of respondents are not familiar with this concept. In 7 % of cases, pharmacyvisitors are aware of contraindications to prescribing COC, and 93 % of respondentsdo not have this information. The results of a survey of pharmacy professionals showthat 78 % of respondents are aware of the possible side effects of COCs and 22 % arenot sufficiently aware of this information. The lack of awareness of pharmacy visitorsabout the possible side effects of COC can be improved by providing pharmaceuticalcounselling when dispensing these drugs from pharmacies.Conclusions. Pharmaceutical counselling is a necessary component of improving thepharmacological safety of COC use and, in addition to familiarisation with the specificsof the drug’s use, should also include such key elements as possible side effects andcontraindications and issues of interaction with other drugs, food, and alcohol.