McKeirnan Kimberly C, Hanson Elyssa
Washington State University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 412 E Spokane Falls BLVD, Spokane, WA 99202, United States of America.
Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2023 May 8;10:100280. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2023.100280. eCollection 2023 Jun.
Pharmacy technicians began administering immunizations in Idaho State as part of a new administrative rule in 2017. Rapid expansion of pharmacy technicians as immunizers occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies demonstrate the success of having technicians as immunizers but, the opinions of technicians themselves about immunizing have not been explored.
Key informant interviews were conducted to evaluate the opinions of certified and immunization-trained pharmacy technicians in the State of Idaho. A key informant interview script was utilized and included questions regarding satisfaction with current position, feelings about responsibility in the pharmacy, confidence administering immunizations to patients, changes patient interactions after becoming immunization-trained, support in the pharmacy, and opinion about expansion of immunization training for technicians to other states. The aim of this research was to gather the opinions of pharmacy technicians regarding the impact of administering immunizations on job satisfaction and career outlook.
Fifteen pharmacy technicians were interviewed. All participants believed their role as immunizers improved job satisfaction and feelings of being a valuable part of the pharmacy team. Technicians also believed being able to immunize aided in pharmacy workflow, decreased wait time for immunizations at their respective pharmacies, and increased the number of immunizations being administered. Respondents also believed technicians should be allowed to administer immunizations nation-wide but also felt strongly that the decision to immunize should be up to each individual pharmacy technician.
Immunizing technicians in this study believe that this advanced role has had a positive impact on their job satisfaction, feeling valued in the workplace, and likelihood of staying in their current position. Immunizing has also led to positive engagement with patients and beliefs that they are providing an impactful service to their communities.
2017年，作为一项新的行政规定的一部分，爱达荷州的药剂师技术员开始进行免疫接种工作。在新冠疫情期间，药剂师技术员作为免疫接种人员的数量迅速增加。此前的研究表明让技术员担任免疫接种人员是成功的，但技术员自身对免疫接种的看法尚未得到探讨。
进行了关键信息人访谈，以评估爱达荷州经过认证且接受过免疫接种培训的药剂师技术员的看法。使用了一份关键信息人访谈脚本，其中包括关于对当前职位的满意度、对药房职责的感受、对为患者进行免疫接种的信心、接受免疫接种培训后患者互动的变化、药房的支持以及对将技术员免疫接种培训扩展到其他州的看法等问题。本研究的目的是收集药剂师技术员对进行免疫接种对工作满意度和职业前景影响的看法。
采访了15名药剂师技术员。所有参与者都认为他们作为免疫接种人员的角色提高了工作满意度，并让他们感觉自己是药房团队中有价值的一员。技术员们还认为能够进行免疫接种有助于药房的工作流程，减少了各自药房的免疫接种等待时间，并增加了免疫接种的数量。受访者还认为应该允许技术员在全国范围内进行免疫接种，但也强烈认为是否进行免疫接种的决定应由每位药剂师技术员个人做出。
本研究中的免疫接种技术员认为，这一高级角色对他们的工作满意度、在工作场所的受重视程度以及留在当前职位的可能性产生了积极影响。免疫接种还带来了与患者的积极互动，并让他们相信自己正在为社区提供有影响力的服务。
