Background

Most immunization rates fall below the Healthy People 2020 goals for adults. Pharmacists have the potential to have a positive effect on immunization rates through vaccine administration.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess if an educational program developed for pharmacists could increase pharmacist-delivered statewide immunization rates.

Practice description

This study was conducted in the state of North Dakota. North Dakota law allows authorized pharmacists to provide any immunization to individuals aged 11 years or older.

Practice innovation

In collaboration with the state health department, a needs assessment of North Dakota pharmacists was conducted to determine what resources and education could increase the delivery of immunizations within the pharmacy. The results were used to develop focused continuing pharmacy education material, create an online toolkit, and provide immunization administration certification.

Evaluation

The number and proportion of pharmacist-delivered immunizations and overall adult immunizations rates were compared pre- and postintervention. The North Dakota Immunization Information System was used for data comparison. In addition, the number of pharmacists registered to provide immunizations with the State Board of Pharmacy was tabulated.

Results

The number of pharmacist-provided immunizations increased by more than 3900 doses. In addition, the percentage of adult immunizations provided by pharmacists and overall adult immunization rates increased throughout the state. After adjusting for seasonality, there was an increase in the number of pharmacist-delivered pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine immunizations (P < 0.001). The number of pharmacists registered to provide immunizations increased throughout the study period by 39%.

Conclusion

This study suggests that focused education and resources delivered to pharmacists can increase pharmacy-based immunization rates and adult immunization rates overall. Improving adult immunization rates through greater pharmacist engagement may help to decrease overall infectious disease threats.

中文翻译：

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通过有针对性的药剂师教育提高农村州的成人免疫率。

背景

大多数的免疫接种率都低于《成人健康人群2020年》的目标。药剂师有可能通过疫苗接种对免疫率产生积极影响。

目的

这项研究的目的是评估针对药剂师开发的教育计划是否可以提高药剂师提供的全州免疫率。

实践说明

这项研究是在北达科他州进行的。北达科他州法律允许授权药剂师为11岁以上的个人提供任何免疫接种。

实践创新

与州卫生部门合作，对北达科他州药剂师进行了需求评估，以确定哪些资源和教育可以增加该药房中的免疫接种率。研究结果用于开发重点持续的药学知识教材，创建在线工具包并提供免疫管理认证。

评价

比较了干预前后的药剂师免疫接种的数量和比例以及成人的总体免疫接种率。使用北达科他州免疫信息系统进行数据比较。此外，还列出了在国家药房委员会注册进行免疫接种的药剂师人数。

结果

药剂师提供的免疫数量增加了3900多个剂量。此外，全州药剂师提供的成人免疫接种率和成人总体免疫率都有所提高。经过季节性调整后，由药剂师提供的肺炎球菌多糖疫苗免疫接种次数有所增加（P <0.001）。在整个研究期间，注册提供免疫的药剂师人数增加了39％。

结论

这项研究表明，针对药剂师的有针对性的教育和提供的资源可以总体上提高基于药房的免疫率和成人免疫率。通过增加药剂师的参与来提高成人免疫率可能有助于减少总体传染病威胁。