The study's aim is to enhance current immunization activities in community pharmacies through targeting the two most commonly available non-seasonal vaccines in community pharmacies, namely pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccination services. The study will compare the change in the number of pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccinations administered in pharmacy from the corresponding 6-month period prior to the intervention to the 6-month intervention period between intervention pharmacies and the control pharmacies.
Community pharmacies are in a unique position and have potential to help increase immunization rates, especially among those who do not visit their primary care provider regularly. This study seeks to increase the level of pharmacy-based immunization delivery. The study intervention is designed to increase the current level of pharmacy-based immunization delivery and foster practice change to sustain the intervention effect. Our intervention combines evidence-based strategies for improving immunization coverage and strategies to overcome system barriers to increase sustainability of the intervention over time. The study will focus on pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccination services. Specific aims include: 1. To compare the change in the number of pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccinations administered in pharmacy from the corresponding 6-month period prior to the intervention to the 6-month intervention period between intervention pharmacies and the control pharmacies. The pre-intervention period will correspond to the intervention period. 2. To compare the extent of immunization activity implementation during the intervention period between intervention pharmacies and control pharmacies. 3. To compare the level of sustainability of immunization services over the period of 6 months after the intervention period ends between the intervention group and the control group. 4. To explore facilitators and barriers to implementing immunization services. 5. To explore factors affecting patient acceptance of pharmacist's vaccine recommendations within the intervention pharmacies.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
Webinar and online training will be delivered to intervention pharmacist-technician pairs to discuss strategies that can be used to enhance immunization delivery model and how to integrate the new model into their routine practice. This intervention also includes feedback from immunization experts for the period of 6 months.
Basic immunization update online webinar will summarize changes in immunization schedules.
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama, United States
Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy
Claremont, California, United States
Number of Herpes Zoster and Pneumococcal Vaccinations Administered
The change in the number of pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccinations administered in pharmacy during the 6-month intervention period from the 6-month baseline.
Time frame: 6 months
Number of Strategies Implemented to Promote Immunization Activities
During the study, pharmacist-technician pairs engaged in on-going strategies used to advertise, market and assess non-seasonal immunization service processes. Of the total of 10 strategies possible, each pair selected strategies that they implemented. Results were reported by a representative from each pharmacy unit.
Time frame: 6 months
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SINGLE
Enrollment
120