原著論文

Survey of pregnant/postpartum women’s ease of consultation withpharmacists and self-reporting their pregnant/postpartum status
妊産婦による薬剤師への相談のしやすさと妊産婦としての自己申告に関する調査

Akito Ikeshitaａ，ｂ, Atsunobu Sagara＊ａ, Takuya Azechiｃ,
Ayako Maeda-Minamiａ，ｄ，ｅ, Kayoko Satoａ, Masayoshi Koinumaｆ,
Hidenori Kominatoａ，ｂ, Kazuhiro Torigoeａ, Motohiko Sanoａ, Masako Horiuchiａ,
Fumiaki Satoａ, Etsuko Aritaｇ, and Tetsuro Yumotoａ
池下
小湊

ａ，ｂ

暁人

ａ，ｂ

英範

相良

鳥越

＊ａ

篤信
ａ

一宏

佐野

ｃ

畦地

拓哉
ａ

元彦

ａ，ｄ，ｅ

前田

堀内

絢子
ａ

正子

里

里
ａ

史明

ａ

香世子
有田

濃沼
ｇ

悦子

ｆ

政美

湯本

ａ

哲郎

Keywords ; Pregnant/postpartum woman, Pharmacist, Health products and medicines, Communication, Anxiety
キーワード；妊産婦、薬剤師、健康食品・医薬品、コミュニケーション、不安
Abstract ; When pregnant/postpartum women feel anxious about using health products and medicines, thepsychological ease of communication（hereafter referred to as “ease of psychological access”）with medical
professionals, including pharmacists, is important to alleviate their anxiety. However, the actual situation is unknown.
The sharing of information between medical professionals and pregnant/postpartum women is important for theirsafety; in particular, pregnant/postpartum women need to self-report their pregnancy/postpartum status to medical
professionals by presenting their maternal and child health handbook, etc., but the actual situation of self-reporting
their pregnant/postpartum status is also unknown. We conducted an online survey of pregnant/postpartum women
throughout Japan to understand these actual situations and obtain fundamental knowledge for the support ofpharmacy pharmacists for pregnant/postpartum women. The overall trend was that pharmacists provided relatively
lower ease of psychological access than other medical professionals regardless of the type of health products andmedicines. To improve ease of psychological access to pharmacists, it was considered that it is important for
pregnant/postpartum women to realize the professional ability of pharmacists through the professional relationshipbetween hospital and pharmacy and active awareness. Approximately 10% of the women in this study did not intend
to self-report their pregnant/postpartum status at all or unless asked for pharmacy pharmacists. In addition to thedevelopment of unconventional tools of self-reporting their pregnant/postpartum status, it was considered that it isimportant for pharmacists to acquire professional ability to listen to pregnant/postpartum women, that is, practicalcommunication skills based on a thorough understanding of women’s lifestyles.
要旨；妊産婦が健康食品や医薬品の使用に際して不安を感じた場合、その軽減には薬剤師を含む医療者への心理的なコ
ミュニケーションの取りやすさ（以下、心理的アクセスのしやすさ）が重要となるが、その実態は不明である。また、妊産婦の安全管理のためには医療者と妊産婦との情報共有が重要であり、特に妊産婦側から、母子健康手帳等を提示して自身が妊産婦であることを自己申告する必要性が提言されているがその実態も不明である。本研究は、これらの実態を把握し、薬局薬剤師による妊産婦支援に向けた基礎的知見を得ることを目的として全国の妊産婦にインターネット調査を実施した。医療職の中で薬剤師は、健康食品や医薬品の種別に関わらず全体的な傾向として、妊産婦からの心理的アクセスのしやすさが相対的に低いことが明らかとなった。薬局薬剤師に対する心理的アクセスのしやすさを向上するには、薬薬連携や能動的な啓発を通じて妊産婦が薬剤師の職能を実感することが重要と考えられた。また、約１割の妊
産婦は、薬局薬剤師に対して、聞かれるまで妊産婦であることを自己申告しない、または、妊産婦であることを自己申告しないことが明らかとなった。母子健康手帳等の従来と異なる自己申告ツールの開発に加えて、薬剤師の聞き取り能力、
つまり、女性のライフスタイルを熟知した上での実践的なコミュニケーション能力の習得が重要と考えられた。

16

ａ Hoshi University
ｂ I&H Co., Ltd.
ｃ Department of Pharmacy, Juntendo University Hospitalｄ Graduate School of Pharmacy, Keio University
ｅ Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Scienceｆ Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo Heisei University
ｇ Kitasato University School of Pharmacy＊Corresponding Author：Atsunobu Sagara, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8501, Japane-mail：a-sagara@hoshi.ac.jp
所属：ａ

星薬科大学

ｂ

I&H株式会社ｃ

順天堂大学医学部附属順天堂医院薬剤部ｄ

慶應義塾大学薬学部

ｅ

東京理科大学薬学部ｆ

帝京平成大学薬学部

ｇ

北里大学薬学部

Introduction

as the “review meeting”）revealed that

In recent years, the trends of latemany pregnant women are concerned

marriages and declining birth rates in Japan

about the use of medicines and healthhas accelerated due to increasing numbers

products during pregnancy６）. Under theseof women are entering the workforce １）

circumstances, medical professionals,

and economic circumstances２）. In the Vital

including pharmacists are required to

Statistics Survey of the Ministry of Health,improve the psychological ease ofLabor and Welfare in Japan, the mothers

communication（hereafter referred to as

who gave birth in 2020 were significantly“ e a s e o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l a c c e s s ” ）w i t holder than those who gave birth in 1985３）.

pregnant/postpartum women who areThis suggests an increase in the number ofanxious about using health products andpregnant/postpartum women withmedicines. However, the actual situation

underlying medical conditions and theregarding ease of psychological access is

opportunities to take medication during

not clear.

pregnancy and lactation. In fact, of theOn the other hand, in addition toapproximately 97,000 healthy pregnant

improving ease of psychological access for

women who participated in the National

pregnant/postpartum women, medical

Survey on Children’s Health and theprofessionals should practice appropriate

Environment４）, many used health products

safety management, including continuousand medicines before and during

sharing of information about women’sp r e g n a n c y ５ ）. I n a d d i t i o n , a s u r v e ylifestyles under the cooperative relationshipconducted by the Review Meeting of Ideal

between medical professionals and

Health and Medical System for Pregnant/pregnant/postpartum women. In other

Postpartum Women（hereafter referred towords, it is essential for the medical
17

原著論文

professionals to confirm the information nota platform with medical institutions

only at the initial interview but also on an（obstetrics departments, collaborative

ongoing basis, and for pregnant/obstetrics departments, and pharmacy

postpartum women to self-report to thed e p a r t m e n t s ）a n d l o c a l p h a r m a c i e s t omedical professionals their status regarding

verify the usefulness of continuous follow-

marriage, their desire to have a baby, andup according to women’s lifestyles,

their pregnant/postpartum. However,

however, basic knowledge about

Sakamoto et al. reported that no women of

psychological access and their pregnant/childbearing potential received confirmation

postpartum status is lacking.

of pregnancy or the possibility ofIn this study, we conducted an online

pregnancy from the pharmacist when theysurvey of pregnant/postpartum women

received their medication７）. They pointed

throughout Japan to clarify the ease ofout that the reason for this is that some

psychological access to various information

women suffer from infertility, and it is asources, mainly medical professionals, when

difficult issue that requires great

they are concerned about using healthconsideration for pharmacists to confirm

products and medicines, as well as thethe existence of pregnancy in their daily

actual situation of self-reporting theirwork７）.

pregnant/postpartum status at pharmacies,

The review meeting also revealed thatand to obtain essential information for the

many pregnant/postpartum women felt

support of pharmacists for pregnant/that it was important for pharmacy

postpartum women.

pharmacists to explain medications while
paying attention to pregnancy andMethods

lactation, and to confirm that they were

Survey targets and items

p r e g n a n t o r l a c t a t i n g ６ ）. I n a d d i t i o n , a

FromFebruary25to26,2020,

certain number of pregnant/postpartum

preliminary online surveys were

women felt that the pharmacies did not pay

distributed to 50,000 registeredenough attention to their needs. In theseinvestigation firm randomized monitors

circumstances, review meeting（Macromill, Inc., Tokyo, Japan）of women

recommends the necessity of self-report onin their teens to those in their forties acrossthe part of pregnant/postpartum women,

Japan. Data provided by 1,030 women who

stating that it is necessary to promote thewere eight months pregnant to <1 year

confirmation by medical professionals that a

postpartum（at the time of the survey）

woman is pregnant/postpartum,（e.g., bywere extracted. The monitors of thehaving her present the maternal and childinvestigation firm had been publicly

h e a l t h h a n d b o o k ）,s o t h a t s h e c a n u s e

recruited, and the total number of monitors

medicines with peace of mind６）. However,as of February 2020 was approximately 1.28

the actual situation of self-reporting theirmillion. To prevent any falsified responses,

pregnant/postpartum status remains

a trapping survey was conducted once

unclear. Currently, the authors are building

every six months and monitors were18

required to update necessary registered

Results

information once every year. Table 1 details

Basic characteristics of the respondents

the items in the survey sent to the women.

Table 2 presents the basic characteristics

The women responded about their currentof the respondents in terms of age, region,or most recent pregnancies.

visits to medical institutions other thanthose of the attending obstetrician, health

Analysis methods

products, OTC medicines, and prescription

We collected the completed survey

medicines being regularly taken prior to

responses from Macromill, Inc. andpregnancy.

t a b u l a t e d t h e d a t a u s i n g J M P 1 4（ S A S
Institute, Cary, NC, USA）.For Figures 1

Ease of psychological access to various

and 2 , the answer “very easy to consult”

sources of information, mainly medical

was assigned a numerical value of 5;

professionals, when pregnant/postpartum“somewhat easy to consult,” 4; “neither,” 3;

women experienced anxiety“somewhat difficult to consult,” 2; and “veryIn the scatter plot, the lower rightdifficult to consult,” 1. The mean andquadrant represents a generally highstandard deviation for health products,

degree of ease of psychological accesso v e r - t h e - c o u n t e r（ O T C ）m e d i c i n e s（Figure 1 and 2）.There are various sources（internal and external）,and prescriptionof information, mainly medical professionals,

medicines（internal and external）were

within this quadrant. First, we investigatedcalculated to create a scatter plot. The lines

ease of psychological access regarding theof an average of the mean score anduse of health products, OTC medicines, andstandard deviation for each response itemprescription medicines that they had

appear in figures. As shown in the lower-

previously used prior to the pregnancy,

right quadrant of the four quadrants,

including continuation, for the first time

indicating that the corresponding item has

since learning that they were pregnant. Fora high degree of ease of psychologicalhealth products, ease of psychologicalaccess in general.

access was higher among midwives/nurses（4.0811 ± 0.8318）and attending physicians

Ethical considerations（3.7303 ± 0.9415）,in that order（Figure 1A）.

The study was conducted in accordance

For OTC medicines, psychological accesswith the ethical guidelines for human-based

was higher among midwives/nurses（4.0115

medical research and was approved by the± 0.8576）,attending obstetricians（3.9656

Institutional Review Board of Hoshi± 0.9801）,attending physicians（3.7419 ±University（2019-13）and the Institutional

0.9769）,and pharmacists（3.6673 ± 0.9610）,

Review Board of HANSHIN Dispensing

in that order（ Figure 1B ）.For prescription

Pharmacy（19009S）.The survey response

medicines, ease of psychological access wasindicated consent to participate in thehigher among attending obstetricians

study.

（4.2224 ± 0.8482）,midwives/nurses（4.0140± 0.8791）,attending physicians（4.0060 ±19

Figure 2

Table 3１）Very easy to consult２）Somewhat easy to consult３）Neither
４）Somewhat difficult to consult５）Very difficult to consult１）Questionnaire/initial visit survey２）Verbal communication
３）Mother and child health handbook
４）Maternity mark keychain５）Drug history handbook
６）I do not self-report my status aspregnant/postpartum woman
unless asked７）I do not self-report my status aspregnant/postpartum woman１）Attending obstetricians２）Attending physicians３）Other physicians４）Pharmacists５）Midwives/nurses
６）Family members/relatives７）Friends who had given
birth/been pregnant８）Internet
９）Books/magazinesＡ）Health products
Please select the ease of consultation from Ｂ）Over-the-counterthe item list when you experience anxiety
medicines for internal use
regarding the use of health products, over- Ｃ）Over-the-counter
the-counter medicines, and prescription
medicines for external use
medicines that you had not previously used Ｄ）Prescription medicinesprior to the pregnancy, for the first time
for internal use
since learning that you were pregnant.
Ｅ）Prescription medicines
for external use

１）Hospital/clinic that I first visited after the pregnancy wasconfirmed
Please select tools for self-reporting２）Local hospital/clinic that I visited from prior to thepregnant/postpartum status at medical
pregnancy
institutions other than those of the attending３）Pharmacy that I first visited after the pregnancy was
obstetrician（multiple answers）.
confirmed
４）Local pharmacy that I visited from prior to the pregnancy

Question
B

QuestionC

Figure 1

QuestionA

Corresponding
Table/Figure１）Very easy to consult２）Somewhat easy to consult３）Neither
４）Somewhat difficult to consult５）Very difficult to consult

Options List

１）Attending obstetricians２）Attending physicians３）Other physicians４）Pharmacists５）Midwives/nurses
６）Family members/relatives７）Friends who had given
birth/been pregnant８）Internet
９）Books/magazines

Item List
Ａ）Health products
Ｂ）Over-the-counter
medicines for internal use
Ｃ）Over-the-counter
medicines for external use
Ｄ）Prescription medicines
for internal use
Ｅ）Prescription medicines
for external use

Question content

Please select the ease of consultation fromthe item list when you experience anxiety
regarding the use of health products, overthe-counter medicines, and prescription
medicines that you had previously used prior
to the pregnancy（including continuation）,for
the first time since learning that you werepregnant.

Table 1 Survey items

原著論文

20

21

Basic characteristics of the responders

38
56
314
202
226
69
27
98
507
397
249
197
181

Hokkaido
Tohoku
Kanto
Chubu
Kinki
Chugoku
Shikoku
KyusyuHospital/clinic that I first visited after the pregnancy was confirmed
Local hospital/clinic that I visited from prior to the pregnancy
Pharmacy that I first visited after the pregnancy was confirmed
Local pharmacy that I visited from prior to the pregnancy
I had never visited a medical institution other than my attending obstetrician

419
235
288
285
214

0.4%
51.1%
47.0%
1.6%

4
526
484
16

Teens
Twenties
Thirties
Forties

40.7%
22.8%
28.0%
27.7%
20.8%

49.2%
38.5%
24.2%
19.1%
17.6%

3.7%
5.4%
30.5%
19.6%
21.9%
6.7%
2.6%
9.5%

%

N

Health products
Health products, over-the-counter medicines, and prescription medicines Over-the-counter medicines for internal use
being regularly taken prior to pregnancy（multiple answers, N=1,030）
Over-the-counter medicines for external use
Prescription medicines for internal use
Prescription medicines for external use

Visits to medical institutions other than those of the attending obstetrician（multiple answers, N=1,030）

Region（single answer, N=1,030）

Age（single answer, N=1,030）

Table 2

原著論文

0.9324）,and pharmacists（3.8537 ± 0.9718）,

hospitals/clinics（77.3%: 392/507 subjects）

in that order（Figure 1C）.

and pharmacies（78.3%: 195/249 subjects）

Next, we also investigated ease ofthat they visited for the first time after

psychological access regarding the use of

their pregnancy was confirmed. The

health products, OTC medicines, andmedical institutions where “verbal

prescription medicines that they had notcommunication” was used the most werepreviously used prior to the pregnancy, forthe local hospital/clinic（61.7%: 245/397

the first time since learning that they were

subjects）and the local pharmacy（62.9%:

pregnant.Forhealthproducts,

124/197 subjects）that they had visited

psychological access was higher among

prior to their pregnancy. On the otherattending obstetricians（3.9369 ± 0.9912）,

hand, in the pharmacies that they visited

m i d w i v e s / n u r s e s（ 3 . 9 0 5 8 ± 0 . 9 4 8 6 ）,for the first time after their pregnancy wasattending physicians（3.6864 ± 0.9965）, andconfirmed, “ I do not self-report my status

p h a r m a c i s t s（ 3 . 6 3 8 8 ± 0 . 9 7 1 7 ）,i n t h a t

as pregnant/postpartum woman unlesso r d e r（ F i g u r e 2 A ）.F o r O T C m e d i c i n e s ,asked（4.8%: 12/249 subjects）” and “I dopsychological access was higher attending

not self-report my status as pregnant/obstetricians（3.9078 ± 1.0062）,midwives/

postpartum woman（2.0%: 5/249 subjects）”

nurses（3.8083 ± 0.9859）,pharmacists

were found, indicating that a total of 6.8%

（3.7053 ± 0.9846）,and attending physiciansof the pregnant/postpartum women did not（3.7000 ± 1.0033）,in that order（Figure 2B）.

intend to self-reporting their status as

For prescription medicines, psychologicalpregnant/postpartum women toaccess was higher among attending

pharmacists. Furthermore, in local

obstetricians（4.0922 ± 0.9346）,attending

pharmacy that they visited from prior tophysicians（3.9112 ± 0.9643）,midwives/

the pregnancy, “ I do not self-report mynurses（3.8699 ± 0.9680）,and pharmacists

status as pregnant/postpartum woman（3.8432 ± 0.9782）,in that order（Figure 2C）.

unless asked（6.1%: 12/197 subjects）” andThe overall trend revealed that medical“I do not self-report my status as pregnant/professionals had generally more ease ofp o s t p a r t u m w o m a n（ 6 . 1 % : 1 2 / 1 9 7

psychological access compared to the othersubjects）” were found, indicating that a

information sources, while pharmacists had

total of 12.2% of the pregnant/postpartum

relatively less ease of psychological access

women did not intend to self-report theirwhen focusing on medical professionals.

pregnant/postpartum status topharmacists. In particular, compared toTools for self-reporting pregnant/postpartum

other medical institutions, pregnant/status at medical institutions other than

postpartum women were less likely to self-

those of the attending obstetrician

reporting their pregnant/postpartum status

The medical institutions where

to local pharmacies that they visited from“Questionnaire/Initial visit survey” wasprior to the pregnancy.

used the most as a tool for self-reporting
pregnant/postpartum status were22

23
(3.6616 ± 1.0659)

3.6624(3.9656 ± 0.9801)(3.7419 ± 0.9769)(4.0115 ± 0.8576)(3.6673 ± 0.9610)(3.8585 ± 1.0242)(3.8184 ± 1.0337)(3.2745 ± 0.9873)(3.6253 ± 0.8968)

3.68970.9990C(3.3427 ± 1.0064)(3.7014 ± 1.1162)(3.4609 ± 1.1495)(3.0321 ± 1.0135)(4.0811 ± 0.8318)(3.7303 ± 0.9415)(3.9021 ± 0.9421)(3.9499 ± 0.9733)(3.9141 ± 0.9891)(3.7542 ± 1.0091)

3.7081(4.2224 ± 0.8482)(4.0140 ± 0.8791)(4.0060 ± 0.9324)(3.8537 ± 0.9718)(3.7395 ± 1.0737)

E ase of psychological access regarding the use of health products（A）, OTC medicines（B）, andprescription medicines（C）that they had previously used prior to the pregnancy(3.1358 ± 0.9761)(3.1013 ± 1.0016)

Figure 1

0.9863B(2.9761 ± 0.9069)

0.9420A

24

3.5961(3.5563 ± 1.0878)(3.0000 ± 0.9742)(3.3927 ± 0.9986)(3.5243 ± 1.0791)(3.3714 ± 1.0901)(3.9058 ± 0.9486)

C

1.0083(3.6388 ± 0.9717)(3.9369 ± 0.9912)(3.6864 ± 0.9965)(3.7573 ± 1.0458)(3.7505 ± 1.0676)

3.6179(3.8699 ± 0.9680)(4.0922 ± 0.9346)(3.9112 ± 0.9643)(3.8432 ± 0.9782)

E ase of psychological access regarding the use of health products（A）, OTC medicines（B）, andprescription medicines（C）that they had not previously used prior to the pregnancy

3.5636(3.9078 ± 1.0062)(3.8083 ± 0.9859)(3.5592 ± 1.0870)(3.0592 ± 0.9726)(3.0709 ± 0.9330)(3.6015 ± 1.0513)(3.6277 ± 1.0677)(3.7053 ± 0.9846)(3.7000 ± 1.0033)(3.4524 ± 1.0860)(3.2214 ± 0.9694)(3.0481 ± 0.9587)

Figure 2

1.0126B

1.0016

A

原著論文

25

Local pharmacy that I visitedfrom prior to the pregnancy

Pharmacy that I first visited
after the pregnancy wasconfirmed

Local hospital/clinic that I visitedfrom prior to the pregnancy

74
37.6%

%

78.3%

%

N=197

195

56.2%

%

N=249

223

77.3%

%

N=397

392

N=507

Questionnaire /initial visit
survey

62.9%

124

42.2%

105

61.7%

245

44.2%

224

Verbalcommunication

15.2%

30

26.5%

66

30.7%

122

46.0%

233

Mother and childhealth handbook

19.3%

38

16.9%

42

18.1%

72

22.9%

116

Maternity markkeychain

25.9%

51

28.1%

70

16.1%

64

14.2%

72

Drug history
handbookTools for self-reporting pregnant/postpartum status at medical institutions other than those of the attending obstetrician

Hospital/clinic that I first visited
after the pregnancy wasconfirmed

Table 3

6.1%

12

4.8%

12

2.0%

8

2.8%

14

I do not selfreport my status
as pregnant/postpartum
woman unless
asked

6.1%

12

2.0%

5

3.8%

15

2.8%

14

I do not selfreport
my status aspregnant/
postpartum
woman

原著論文

Discussion

midwives/nurses in medical institutions

This study investigated the ease ofthat do not have pharmacists on-site or in

psychological access to various information

outpatient clinics, and to promote visible

sources, mainly medical professionals whencollaboration between pharmacy

pregnant/postpartum women were

pharmacists and midwives/nurses, which

concerned about using health products andmay improve ease of psychological accessmedicines.

to pharmacists for pregnant/postpartum

First, ease of psychological access

women. In addition, psychological accessregarding the use of health products, OTC

when pregnant/postpartum women

medicines that they had previously used

experienced anxiety regarding the use ofprior to the pregnancy was found to beprescription medicines that they had

higher among midwives/nurses. One

previously used prior to the pregnancy was

possible reason for this was that pregnant/found to be higher among attending

postpartum women who do not haveobstetricians. Many pregnant/postpartum

underlying medical conditions and are not

women reportedly consulted with theirtaking medication have good physicalphysicians about their concerns about

access to midwives/nurses because they

medication with adequate resolution ofvisit mainly outpatient clinics for prenatal

their concerns９）, which was thought to becheckups. Midwives/nurses act as

partly due to the fact that prescription

supporters after the checkup and as

medicines are different from self-

liaisons and coordinators with physicians.

medication.

Approximately 40% of women in one study

In the circumstances where the review

consulted with midwives about self-

meeting and the Ministry of Health, Labor,

medication８）. However, in the same report,

and Welfare recommended reducing

approximately 90% of midwives regardingo b s t e t r i c i a n s ’ b u r d e n s ６ ，1 0 ）, h o s p i t a l

the combination of medications and foods,

pharmacists have been promoting teamand approximately 50% of midwives

medicineandthecreationof

regarding the main effects and side effects

pharmaceutical outpatient clinics staffedof medicines said “I can answer about halfwith certified and specialized pharmacists.

of the questions”, and “I do not know or

The Aichi Pharmaceutical Association

forgot most of them８）. In addition, Tanida

trains pharmacy pharmacists to provide

et al. considered that nurses could serve as

consultation and appropriate advice tocoordinators to deliver appropriate

pregnant/postpartum women as

information about self-medication to the“pregnancy and lactation support

target population through collaboration

pharmacist”, and provides various

w i t h p h a r m a c i s t s a n d p h y s i c i a n s ８ ）.

consultation services and multidisciplinary

Therefore, we considered that it iscooperation 11）. We believe that further

important for pharmacy pharmacists to

expansion of these efforts to train

make efforts to improve understanding ofpharmacists and the realization by women,

their professional ability, especially forespecially pregnant/postpartum women, of
26

the concrete benefits of cooperation

unless asked. The review meeting

between hospital pharmacists andrecommended that pregnant/postpartum

pharmacy pharmacists will improve thestatus should be self-reported so that theyease of psychological access, especially

can use medicines with peace of mind ６）.

pharmacy pharmacists.

Based on the results of this study, we

For health products and medicines thatconsidered that the ability of pharmacists

they had not previously used prior to theto talk and listen to pregnant/postpartum

pregnancy, the ease of psychological access

women――that is, practical communication

was approximately the same with attending

skills based on a thorough understanding ofobstetricians, attending physicians,

women’s lifestyles――is important forpharmacists, and midwives/nurses.

promoting self-reporting of pregnant/

Therefore, it is necessary to actively raise

postpartum status. In recent years, training

awareness of the professional ability offor pharmacists in the handling ofpharmacists for pregnant/postpartum

emergency contraceptives associated withwomen through the use of stickers, posters,

online medical treatment has been

and awareness cards, as in the efforts ofpromoted, and pharmacy pharmacists are

the Aichi Pharmaceutical Association11）inrequired to improve ease of psychologicalthese health products and medicines. In

access to women and communication skills

addition, to promote an environment wheremore than ever before 13）. In addition, we

all women, including pregnant/postpartum

also considered that it is necessary to

women, can easily consult pharmacy

examine methodologies that enable both

pharmacists about their health issues,

pregnant/postpartum women andKagoshima Prefecture has designatedpharmacists to easily and reliably sharepharmacies that respond to the various

information at pharmacies using tools other

health issues faced by women withthan the traditional self-reporting tools such

expertise as “women-friendly pharmacies”

as the maternal and child health handbook

and is promoting support by pharmacy

and the drug history handbook.

pharmacists12）. We believe that expanding

One of the limitations of this study is thatsuch initiatives and raising awareness will

we were not able to ascertain the details of

increase the understanding of pharmacists’

the reasons for not self-reporting theirservices among pregnant/postpartum

status as pregnant/postpartum women due

women, which will improve ease of

to the response burden of the subjects.

psychological access, especially toThis issue must be examined further inpharmacy pharmacists.

view of women’s social situations. In

Next, we found that 87.8% of pregnant/addition, since the main purpose of thispostpartum women self-reported theirstudy was to understand the trend for

pregnant/postpartum status to pharmacy

Japan as a whole according to population

pharmacists, but 12.2% of the pregnant/distribution, it was not possible to conductpostpartum women would not self-reporta detailed study of regions and ages.

their pregnant/postpartum status at all or

Although the data collected in this study
27

原著論文

includes basic characteristics information

3 July, 2021.
４）Kawamoto T, Nitta H, Murata K, Toda E,on the regions and ages of the respondents,

Tsukamoto N, Hasegawa M, Yamagata Z,

the fact that the sample sizes for regions

Kayama F, Kishi R, Ohya Y, Saito H, Sago H,

and ages varied due to the above main

Okuyama M, Ogata T, Yokoya S, Koresawa Y,

purpose, and that detailed causal

Shibata Y, Nakayama S, Michikawa T,

relationships cannot be clarified, isTakeuchi A, Satoh H：Rationale and study

considered a limitation of this study. Since

design of the Japan environment and children’s study（JECS）.BMC Public Health, 14, 25

there are some regions that are making{2014}.

advanced efforts, such as the cases of５）Nishigori H, Obara T, Nishigori T, Metoki H,

Aichi11）and Kagoshima12）prefectures, weIshikuro M, Mizuno S, Sakurai K, Tatsuta N,

would like to make this an issue for future

Nishijima I, Fujiwara I, Arima T, Nakai K,

study. However, it is very significant that

Mano N, Kuriyama S, Yaegashi N：Drug Use

we conducted an online survey of

before and during Pregnancy in Japan：The

pregnant/postpartum women throughout

Japan Environment and Children’s Study.
Pharmacy（Basel）,5, {2017}.

Japan to clarify the ease of psychological６ ）“ R e v i e w M e e t i n g o f I d e a l H e a l t h a n daccess, the actual situation of self-reporting

Medical System for Pregnant/Postpartum

their pregnant/postpartum status, and to

Woman”：https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/shingi/

obtain essential information for the support

other-hoken_553056_00007.html, Accessed 26

of pharmacists for pregnant/postpartum

June, 2021.

women. In addition, if a particular region or

７）Sakamoto K, Kambe J, Nakata E, Sasaki M,

population is targeted, its social andC h u m a n H , Y a m a u c h i A：Q u e s t i o n n a i r ecultural characteristics may be reflected.

Survey of Pharmacists, Pharmacy Students
and Researchers Regarding “Drugs andTherefore, we thought an online survey

Pregnancy”.Japanesejournalof

would help represent women’s views more

pharmaceutical health care and sciences 32,

accurately because it enabled us to reach956-963 {2006}.

respondents across the nation quickly.

８）Tanida K, Hamaue A：Nurses’knowledge
and consultations with others about self-

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