Perspectives of healthcare professionals on the pharmacist's role in delivering vaccinations for patients with cancer: a qualitative study using role theory.

BACKGROUND

Vaccination rates for influenza and pneumococcal disease globally remain below targets for patients with cancer. Pharmacists already provide vaccinations in the community, highlighting an opportunity to bridge the gap by expanding hospital pharmacists scope of practice to deliver vaccinations in outpatient oncology settings.

AIM

To explore the perceptions of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals (HCPs) for the potential expansion of pharmacists' role to include a vaccination clinic for patients undergoing cancer treatment.

METHOD

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses, doctors, and pharmacists who were purposively sampled. Data analysis used a deductive coding approach, with data themed against the constructs of Role Theory: ambiguity, conflict, overload, identity, overqualification and underqualification.

RESULTS

Nineteen HCPs (6 nurses, 6 doctors, 7 pharmacists) participated. Participants identified the need for improved vaccination delivery, but considered this service not currently part of core business in the outpatient oncology setting. Role ambiguity was identified regarding which clinicians are ultimately responsible, with medical specialists inferring this to be the responsibility of primary care. Pharmacists' identity was strongly linked to vaccination services in the community, but not in hospitals. HCPs thought oncology pharmacists had the knowledge to expand their role to deliver vaccination services. Pharmacists, while motivated, identified that adding responsibility could cause overload without appropriate resources.

CONCLUSION

HCPs supported the inclusion of vaccination administration into the pharmacist's role and highlighted that an appropriately vaccine-trained oncology pharmacist would improve access to vaccines for patients with cancer.