Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study of community pharmacists in the UK
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objectives
To assess the content and frequency of advice community pharmacists (CPs) provide to pregnant women with nausea and vomiting, their confidence in providing advice, and their knowledge of the safety of medication used to manage the condition.
Methods
An online questionnaire of closed- and open-ended questions was distributed to CPs in the UK in May 2023. Closed-ended questions were analysed quantitatively, and conventional content analysis was utilised for open-ended responses.
Key findings
One hundred and eighty-one respondents completed the questionnaire, 24 responses were excluded, leaving data from 157 available for analysis. The majority (90.4%) of participants reported having experience in providing advice on nausea and vomiting with varying levels of confidence. Advice provided included using over-the-counter products, lifestyle modifications, reassurance, medication advice, and referring to other healthcare professionals. Knowledge of first-line antiemetics considered safe in pregnancy varied; cyclizine was correctly identified as safe during pregnancy by 57.3%, followed by 37.6% for promethazine and 31.2% for prochlorperazine. Self-reported confidence and having experience providing advice were related to higher medication safety identification rates. Five percent of participants reported previous training on the condition, while 70% reported wanting further education, preferably delivered via an online medium.
Conclusions
This study showed that although 90% of CPs provide advice on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, their medication safety knowledge varied. The majority of CPs reported wanting further education that would ensure women could access reliable information and evidence-based advice to optimise management of the condition.
To assess the content and frequency of advice community pharmacists (CPs) provide to pregnant women with nausea and vomiting, their confidence in providing advice, and their knowledge of the safety of medication used to manage the condition.
Methods
An online questionnaire of closed- and open-ended questions was distributed to CPs in the UK in May 2023. Closed-ended questions were analysed quantitatively, and conventional content analysis was utilised for open-ended responses.
Key findings
One hundred and eighty-one respondents completed the questionnaire, 24 responses were excluded, leaving data from 157 available for analysis. The majority (90.4%) of participants reported having experience in providing advice on nausea and vomiting with varying levels of confidence. Advice provided included using over-the-counter products, lifestyle modifications, reassurance, medication advice, and referring to other healthcare professionals. Knowledge of first-line antiemetics considered safe in pregnancy varied; cyclizine was correctly identified as safe during pregnancy by 57.3%, followed by 37.6% for promethazine and 31.2% for prochlorperazine. Self-reported confidence and having experience providing advice were related to higher medication safety identification rates. Five percent of participants reported previous training on the condition, while 70% reported wanting further education, preferably delivered via an online medium.
Conclusions
This study showed that although 90% of CPs provide advice on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, their medication safety knowledge varied. The majority of CPs reported wanting further education that would ensure women could access reliable information and evidence-based advice to optimise management of the condition.
Date Issued
2025-01-01
Date Acceptance
2024-09-20
Citation
International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 2025, 33 (1), pp.45-51
ISSN
0961-7671
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Start Page
45
End Page
51
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Pharmacy Practice
Volume
33
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39401321
PII: 7821513
Subjects
community pharmacists
nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
surveys and questionnaires
Humans
Female
Pregnancy
Pharmacists
Cross-Sectional Studies
United Kingdom
Antiemetics
Community Pharmacy Services
Adult
Surveys and Questionnaires
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Vomiting
Nausea
Professional Role
Pregnancy Complications
Middle Aged
Male
Young Adult
Morning Sickness
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Article Number
riae057
Date Publish Online
2024-10-14