Enhancing a Sustainable Pharmacy-based Immunization Program in Two States

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Pneumococcal Infections; Herpes Zoster
• Interventions: Behavioral: Enhanced immunization delivery model; Other: Immunization update

• Registration Number: NCT02615470
• Lead Sponsor: Auburn University

Brief Summary

The study's aim is to enhance current immunization activities in community pharmacies through targeting the two most commonly available non-seasonal vaccines in community pharmacies, namely pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccination services. The study will compare the change in the number of pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccinations administered in pharmacy from the corresponding 6-month period prior to the intervention to the 6-month intervention period between intervention pharmacies and the control pharmacies.

Detailed Description

Community pharmacies are in a unique position and have potential to help increase immunization rates, especially among those who do not visit their primary care provider regularly. This study seeks to increase the level of pharmacy-based immunization delivery.

The study intervention is designed to increase the current level of pharmacy-based immunization delivery and foster practice change to sustain the intervention effect. Our intervention combines evidence-based strategies for improving immunization coverage and strategies to overcome system barriers to increase sustainability of the intervention over time. The study will focus on pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccination services.

Specific aims include:

1. To compare the change in the number of pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccinations administered in pharmacy from the corresponding 6-month period prior to the intervention to the 6-month intervention period between intervention pharmacies and the control pharmacies. The pre-intervention period will correspond to the intervention period.

2. To compare the extent of immunization activity implementation during the intervention period between intervention pharmacies and control pharmacies.

3. To compare the level of sustainability of immunization services over the period of 6 months after the intervention period ends between the intervention group and the control group.

4. To explore facilitators and barriers to implementing immunization services.

5. To explore factors affecting patient acceptance of pharmacist's vaccine recommendations within the intervention pharmacies.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-11
• Study First Submitted: 2015-11-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-11-25
• Study First Posted: 2015-11-26
• Primary Completion: 2017-10
• Study Completion: 2017-12
• Results First Submitted: 2018-05-30
• Status Verified: 2019-07
• Results First Submitted QC: 2019-07-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-07-11
• Results First Posted: 2019-08-20
• Last Update Posted: 2019-08-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 120

Inclusion Criteria

• Alabama and California community pharmacies
• Must provide in-store prescription-dispensing service
• Must provide pneumococcal vaccine and/or herpes zoster

Exclusion Criteria

• Must have no plan to close or change the ownership in the next 12 months

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Enhanced immunization delivery model	Immunization update	Pharmacist-technician pairs employed by community pharmacies that are assigned to this arm will receive a) immunization update training, b) training by immunization experts to enhance immunization delivery model and foster practice change at the beginning of 6-month and c) regular feedback and clinical support for the period of 6 months.
Enhanced immunization delivery model	Enhanced immunization delivery model	Pharmacist-technician pairs employed by community pharmacies that are assigned to this arm will receive a) immunization update training, b) training by immunization experts to enhance immunization delivery model and foster practice change at the beginning of 6-month and c) regular feedback and clinical support for the period of 6 months.
Immunization update	Immunization update	Pharmacist-technician pairs employed by community pharmacies that are assigned to the control arm will receive an immunization update training. They will not receive a training by immunization experts nor regular feedback and clinical support.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Herpes Zoster and Pneumococcal Vaccinations Administered	6 months	The change in the number of pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccinations administered in pharmacy during the 6-month intervention period from the 6-month baseline.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Strategies Implemented to Promote Immunization Activities	6 months	During the study, pharmacist-technician pairs engaged in on-going strategies used to advertise, market and assess non-seasonal immunization service processes. Of the total of 10 strategies possible, each pair selected strategies that they implemented. Results were reported by a representative from each pharmacy unit.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Auburn University; 🇺🇸 Auburn, Alabama, United States

Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy; 🇺🇸 Claremont, California, United States