Pharmacy-based Testing and Treatment for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are major public health concerns with increasing rates of infection occurring across Canada. Access to testing and treatment reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which puts communities at risk of increased transmission. This is a serious problem, as many infections are asymptomatic and go undetected until testing occurs. Pharmacy-based sexual health services are increasing and testing and treatment for these infections in pharmacies may offer an excellent additional pathway for Canadians to receive care. The investigator team has already led successful projects for sexual health testing in pharmacies and also for implementation of pharmacist prescribing for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The goal of this project is to provide even greater comprehensive care by improving access to swab and urine based testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia, as well as equip pharmacists with the skills and authorities to prescribe treatment upon receiving positive results. This pilot project will recruit 100 patients and utilize three to five pharmacies in Nova Scotia to develop and refine a protocol for a future national implementation study. This project will gain data relating to facilitators and barriers of implementing these services, including considerations for pharmacist training and workload, service promotion methods, patient acceptance and satisfaction, and will also report on testing outcomes and linkages to care. It is a collaborative project between researchers and healthcare professionals and has the support of the pharmacy regulatory and advocacy bodies in Nova Scotia.