Effect of pharmacist intervention on herpes zoster vaccination in community pharmacies

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of community pharmacy-based interventions in increasing vaccination rates for the herpes zoster vaccine. Design: Prospective intervention study with a pre-post design. Setting: Three independent community pharmacies in Tennessee, from December 2007 to June 2008. Patients: Patients whose pharmacy profiles indicated that they were eligible for the vaccine and patients presenting to receive the vaccine at study sites. Intervention: Pharmacists promoted the herpes zoster vaccine through a press release published in local newspapers, a flyer accompanying each prescription dispensed at participating pharmacies, and a personalized letter mailed to patients whose pharmacy profiles indicated that they were eligible for the vaccine. Main outcome measures: Comparison of vaccination rates for the herpes zoster vaccine during the control and intervention periods and patients' indication for their sources of education and influence in receiving the vaccine. Results: Vaccination rates increased from 0.37% (n = 59 of 16,121) during the control period to 1.20% (n = 193 of 16,062) during the intervention period (P < 0.0001). Cochran-Armitage trend analyses, including the months before and after the interventions, confirmed a significantly higher vaccination rate during the intervention month than other months analyzed. More patients indicated that they were educated about the herpes zoster vaccine by one of the pharmacist-driven interventions than by a physician, family/friend, or other source during the intervention period (P < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Also, more patients were influenced to receive the vaccination as a result of one of the pharmacist-driven interventions than influenced by a physician (P = 0.0260) or other source (P < 0.0001). No difference in the effectiveness of patient influence was found when the pharmacy interventions were compared with family/friends (P = 0.1025). Conclusion: Three pharmacist-driven interventions were effective in increasing vaccination rates for the herpes zoster vaccine.