Evaluation of administering an influenza vaccine using a needle-free jet injector device in a community pharmacy

Abstract

Objective: The study objectives are to: (1) determine if pharmacists and patients prefer a needle-free jet injector device to traditional shots for an influenza vaccine in a community pharmacy chain and (2) determine if the new administration device is a cost-effective service for a community pharmacy chain. Methods: This is a prospective, observational study to be completed from September 2014 to January 2015 in five pharmacies in a Midwest grocery store chain. Patients 18 to 64 years of age who receive the trivalent influenza vaccine (Afluria) via traditional injection or with the needle-free device will be offered a survey. Pharmacists and student pharmacists who administer influenza vaccinations with the needle-free device will be surveyed at the end of the study. Surveys gather demographic data, history of flu vaccinations, satisfaction and preference for the administration type, pain experienced (patients), and ease of use (pharmacists). Surveys will be anonymous and there will be a designated folder at each site for collecting surveys. Recruitment of patients will continue until 150 needle-free surveys and 150 traditional flu shot surveys are collected across the five sites or until the study period has ended. Up to 20 pharmacist surveys will be collected. To measure the costs of each type of vaccination, pharmacist time to prepare and administer 10 traditional influenza vaccines and 10 needle-free influenza vaccines will be randomly timed and recorded at each site. Quantitative data from the collected surveys will be reported as summary statistics and the written comments will be reported as qualitative results. A test for correlation will be used to assess for association of results with patient demographics and a logit model to predict vaccine delivery preference will be based on survey results. A cost-benefit analysis also will be completed based on collected vaccination-time data and survey results.