Utilization of Immunization Information Systems (IIS) among independently owned community pharmacies: A national survey.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Immunization information systems (IIS) consolidate provider-submitted immunization information. We reassessed independently owned community pharmacies' IIS enrollment, verification of immunizations needs via IIS records retrieval, and immunization records reporting to IISs following post-pandemic shifts in community pharmacy operations. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey of National Community Pharmacists Association pharmacist, pharmacy owner, and pharmacy technician members was conducted in Fall 2022. RESULTS: 202 complete responses were analyzed. Margin of error was an estimated 7 %. Respondents were: 53.2 % female, ∼87 % White, 69.8 % managers, and 86.1 % practicing in standalone community pharmacies. Almost all (91.6 %) were enrolled in IIS. About two-thirds frequently or always utilized IIS to retrieve immunization records prior to immunization. On average, 81.2 % of influenza and 83.5 % of non-COVID/non-influenza vaccination records were submitted. CONCLUSIONS: Enrollment rates are high among studied pharmacies, as are records reporting rates. However, records retrieval rates are suboptimal. Future work should focus on addressing suboptimal retrieval rates within immunization-providing pharmacies.

Participation in emergency preparedness and response: a national survey of pharmacists and pharmacist extenders.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the critical role of pharmacists in pandemic response. To enhance pharmacist's involvement in future emergency situations, there is a critical need to understand pharmacists' knowledge, willingness and preparedness in response to various emergency situations. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe pharmacists and pharmacist extenders on their participation in emergency response activities and training, preparedness and willingness to respond in emergency situations, and knowledge of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and their pharmacy's emergency preparedness plans. METHODS: A cross-sectional design with an online survey of pharmacist, pharmacy owner, and pharmacy technician members of the National Community Pharmacists Association was employed in the United States in July - August 2020. Descriptive statistics summarized participants' level of actual participation and their willingness to participate in emergency situations and training and their knowledge of MOU and their pharmacy's emergency plans. A non-response bias investigation was conducted by comparing the early and late responders. RESULTS: Of the 6,486 members, 255 completed the questionnaire (RR1 = 4.0%). With the confidence level of 95%, the margin of error was 6%. About 60% were independently owned and in urban areas. More than 80% and 64% of the participants have not volunteered in any emergency or participated in any emergency training program, respectively. Over 60% were very willing to assist with the distribution of medications and vaccine administration. Less than 10% had MOUs with health departments. More than 60% of respondents were not aware of what MOU is. CONCLUSION: Despite limited involvement in actual emergency activities and training, pharmacists and pharmacist extenders exhibited a high level of willingness to participate in emergency training and assist in case of emergencies. This study recommends the development of programs aimed at increasing pharmacists' and pharmacist extenders' participation in emergency training and in future public health emergencies.

Continuous Stakeholder Engagement: Expanding the Role of Pharmacists in Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Through the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

The pharmacy sector is a key partner in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP), as pharmacists frequently care for patients at high risk for type 2 diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aimed to increase pharmacist involvement in the program by leveraging partnerships with national pharmacy stakeholders. Continuous stakeholder engagement helped us to better understand the pharmacy sector and its needs. With stakeholders, we developed a guide and promotional campaign. By following a systematic process and including key stakeholders at every step of development, we successfully engaged these valuable partners in national type 2 diabetes prevention efforts. More pharmacy sites (n = 87) are now offering the National DPP lifestyle change program compared to before release of the guide (n = 27).

The use of the health belief model to assess predictors of intent to receive the novel (2009) H1N1 influenza vaccine.

OBJECTIVES: 1) Assess participants' perceptions of severity, risk, and susceptibility to the novel H1N1 influenza virus and/or vaccine, vaccine benefits and barriers, and cues to action and 2) Identify predictors of participants' intention to receive the novel H1N1 vaccine. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive study SETTING: Local grocery store chain and university in the central Virginia area PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of adult college students and grocery store patrons INTERVENTION: Participants filled out an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire based upon the Health Belief Model. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants' predictors of intention to receive the novel H1N1 vaccine RESULTS: A total of 664 participants completed a questionnaire. The majority of participants were aged 25-64 years old (66.9%). The majority were female (69.1%), Caucasian (73.7%), and felt at risk for getting sick from the virus (70.3%). Most disagreed that they would die from the virus (68.0%). Participants received novel H1N1 vaccine recommendations from their physicians (28.2%), pharmacists (20.7%), and nurses (16.1%). The majority intended to receive the H1N1 vaccine (58.1%). Participants were significantly more likely to intend to receive the H1N1 vaccine if they had lower scores on the perceived vaccine barriers domain (OR= 0.57, CI: 0.35-0.93). Physicians' recommendations (OR=0.26, CI: 0.11-0.62) and 2008 seasonal flu vaccination (OR=0.45, CI: 0.24-0.83) were significant predictors of intention to receive the H1N1 vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Most participants felt at risk for getting the novel H1N1 virus and intended to receive the novel H1N1 vaccine. Educating patients about vaccine benefits and increasing healthcare professionals' vaccine recommendations may increase vaccination rates in future pandemics.