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Evaluation of Pharmacist-Initiated Interventions on Vaccination Rates in Patients with Asthma or COPD

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Abstract

To determine if pharmacy-initiated interventions improved the rate of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations in adult patients with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Adult patients who filled prescriptions at one of three community pharmacies, who had a dispensing history indicative of an asthma and/or COPD diagnosis were randomized to receive a personal phone call or standardized mailed letter recommending influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, or control with no vaccination information. The rate of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations was measured for each group and measured using Chi square. Of 831 eligible participants, 210 patients completed the study, and self-reported a diagnosis of asthma and/or COPD. The influenza vaccine was administered to 56 (72.7%), 55 (87.3%), and 62 (88.6%) patients (p = 0.019); pneumococcal vaccine was administered to 46 (59.7%), 39 (61.9%), and 39 (55.7%) patients in the phone call, letter, and control groups, respectively. While the control group had significantly more influenza vaccinations, between the interventions the letter showed a higher rate of influenza vaccination over the phone call. Reviewing patients under age 65, the letter had a significantly higher rate of influenza vaccination than the phone call (p = 0.021). No significant improvement was found for the pneumococcal vaccination. Patients under age 65 who received a mailed letter had a significantly higher rate of influenza vaccination than those who received a phone call, and had a higher rate of pneumococcal vaccination. A standardized, mailed letter may help community pharmacists improve vaccination rates in patients with asthma and/or COPD.

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Funding

015 American Pharmacists Association Foundation Incentive Grant

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Balls Food Stores, Grandview, MO, USA

    Haley M. Klassing

  2. University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Janelle F. Ruisinger & Brittany L. Melton

  3. Balls Food Stores Hen House Pharmacy, Olathe, KS, USA

    Emily S. Prohaska

  4. Adjunct Faculty, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Emily S. Prohaska

  5. University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Mailstop 4047, Kansas City, KS, USA

    Brittany L. Melton

Authors
  1. Haley M. Klassing
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  2. Janelle F. Ruisinger
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  3. Emily S. Prohaska
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  4. Brittany L. Melton
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Correspondence to Brittany L. Melton.

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The authors declare no relevant conflicts of interest or financial relationships.

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Klassing, H.M., Ruisinger, J.F., Prohaska, E.S. et al. Evaluation of Pharmacist-Initiated Interventions on Vaccination Rates in Patients with Asthma or COPD. J Community Health 43, 297–303 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0421-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0421-9

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