Unlocking the condoms: The effect on sales and theft

Pharmacy Practice (Internet)

  • Daniel Ashwood1Program in Pharmaceutical Socioeconomics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States.
  • Karen B. Farris2Department of Clinical, Social & Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
  • Shelly Campo3Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States.
  • Mary L. Aquilino3Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States.
  • Mary Losch4Center for Social & Behavioral Research, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, United States.

Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 44-47

Abstract

Community pharmacies may place condoms in locked displays or behind glass, thereby reducing access and consequent use. Objective: Quantify sales and theft of condoms when condoms were unlocked and removed from behind glass in grocery pharmacies. Methods: Design. In this pilot study, condom displays were unlocked in selected pharmacies for three months. Participants. Eight grocery pharmacies in central Iowa agreed to participate. Intervention. Stores provided inventory at baseline, sales/theft thereafter in three monthly reports and sales for the same period one-year earlier. Outcome measures. Descriptive statistics quantified condom theft and sales. Number of pharmacies leaving condoms unlocked after the intervention was determined. Results: Theft varied by pharmacy and ranged from an average of 1.33 boxes (units) per month to 27.33 per month. All stores experienced some increase in sales during the intervention. Two locations decided to re-lock their displays, only one indicated theft as the reason. Conclusion: After removing condoms from locked displays, more condoms were purchased and stolen from the study pharmacies. Sales outweighed theft in all pharmacies.

Keywords

  • Condoms
  • Theft
  • Pharmacies
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • United States
Pharmacy Practice

Loading…