Journal of the American Pharmacists Association japha.org SEP/OCT 2015 | 55:5 | JAPhA 481 RESEARCH Pharmacy staff perceptions and self- reported behaviors related to providing contraceptive information and counseling Peter Batra, Mary L. Aquilino, and Karen B. Farris Abstract Objective: To evaluate pharmacy staff perspectives of a 2-year pharmacy intervention aimed at reducing unintended pregnancy in 18- to 30-year-old women. Design: Pharmacy staff completed a 48-item, self-administered paper sur- vey consisting of scaled and open-ended questions. Setting: 55 community pharmacies in 12 Iowa counties. Participants: All pharmacy staff participated, including pharmacists, phar- macy technicians, and other pharmacy employees. Intervention: Online continuing education (CE) training was made avail- able to all pharmacy staff. Promotional materials—including posters, bro- chures, and shelf talkers—were displayed in all of the pharmacies. Main outcome measures: Pharmacy staff perceptions and self-reported behaviors related to displaying posters, brochures, and shelf talkers in their pharmacies and providing contraceptive information and counseling to pa- tients/customers. Results: A total of 192 (43% return rate) pharmacy staff responded. Only 44% of respondents consistently provided contraceptive information and counseling, yet more than 90% felt that talking with patients/customers about contraceptives was easy, and more than 50% could do so privately. The study showed increased pharmacy staff desire to make this topic a pri- ority. Conclusion: Community pharmacy staff can play a key role in educating and counseling young adult women about contraceptive health and preg- nancy planning. This study indicates that staff are comfortable providing this service and that patients/customers are open to receiving guidance from pharmacists. However, pharmacy staff are missing additional op- portunities to provide information and counseling. There is also a need for greater attention to provision of nonprescription contraceptive education. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2015;55:481–487 doi: 10.1331/JAPhA.2015.15037 Peter Batra, MA, Research Analyst, Uni- versity of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI Mary L. Aquilino, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor and Associate Dean, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA Karen B. Farris, PhD, Charles R. Walgreen III Professor of Pharmacy Administration, University of Michigan College of Pharm- acy, Ann Arbor, MI Correspondence: Peter Batra, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, 428 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109; pbatra@ umich.edu Disclosure: The authors declare no relevant conflicts of interest or financial relationships. Funding: Provided by the Iowa Initiative to Reduce Unintended Pregnancy, a project underwritten by the Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation. Acknowledgments: The authors thank Beth Cook, Jeanie Kimbel, Michelle LaPointe, Megan Meyer, and Scott Wilson for their assistance with data collection and project administration. Received February 25, 2015. Accepted for publication April 29, 2015.