Pharmacist impact on pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination rates in patients with diabetes in a national grocery chain pharmacy.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the impact of pharmacist education and intervention on pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23) vaccination rates in patients with diabetes in a national grocery chain pharmacy and assess patient awareness and barriers to receiving the PPSV23 vaccine.

METHODS

Prospective interventional 4-month study in 3 grocery chain pharmacies targeted patients aged between 19 years and 64 years who filled a medication for diabetes 90 days before the study period. Immunization status was verified with pharmacy records and the Virginia Immunization Information System. A note was added to the profile of patients who did not have a record of PPSV23 immunization to alert the pharmacist to provide patient education about the vaccine the next time the patient presented to the pharmacy. Patients who received education either accepted or declined the recommendation for the vaccine and completed a voluntary survey assessing awareness and barriers to receiving the vaccine. Vaccination rates were calculated before and after pharmacist intervention.

RESULTS

Pharmacists provided education to 126 out of the 321 patients potentially eligible to receive the vaccine. For patients receiving the intervention, 51 patients were excluded, 7 patients refused the survey, and 68 patients completed the survey. Twelve patients accepted the pharmacist's recommendation to receive the vaccine. Of patients who completed the survey, 83.6% had type 2 diabetes, 61.8% were men, 77.9% were Caucasian, and the mean age was 51.5 years. More than one-half of the patients (54%) were not aware of the recommendation to receive the PPSV23 vaccine, and 46% of patients wanted to discuss it with their primary care provider. The PPSV23 vaccination rate was 28.6% before pharmacist education and increased to 31.8% after intervention.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacist education increased PPSV23 vaccination rates at the pharmacy, and the primary barrier identified for patients receiving the vaccine was that the patients wanted to discuss the recommendation with their provider.