Exploring Opportunities to Leverage Pharmacists in Rural Areas to Promote Administration of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine.

Grace Ryan,Eliza Daly,Laura Seegmiller,Felicia Pieper,Tessa Allred,Natoshia Askelson

doi:10.5888/pcd17.190351

Abstract

Rural pharmacists have been identified as potential partners, along with health care providers, schools, and public health agencies, in administering and promoting the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. We sought to understand the role of pharmacists in this work. We interviewed 11 pharmacists working at independently owned pharmacies in Iowa to explore their perspectives on HPV vaccine administration and promotion. Most pharmacists agreed that HPV vaccination was within their professional scope. They identified factors that facilitate vaccine administration (eg, accessibility of pharmacies). They also reported personal barriers (eg, lack of information, concerns about safety) and organizational barriers (eg, time and staff capacity). Future work should focus on alleviating barriers and building on strengths to improve vaccination rates and ultimately prevent HPV-related cancers.

Highlights

Rural pharmacists have been identified as potential partners, along with health care providers, schools, and public health agencies, in administering and promoting the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
We interviewed 11 pharmacists working at independently owned pharmacies in Iowa to explore their perspectives on HPV vaccine administration and promotion
Most pharmacists agreed that HPV vaccination was within their professional scope

Summary

Methods

As part of a larger study assessing HPV vaccination barriers and facilitators in rural counties with low HPV vaccination rates, we interviewed pharmacists at independently owned pharmacies in Iowa. We first identified 7 rural counties that had 1) HPV vaccination completion rates lower than the state average (27%), and 2) a percentage-point discrepancy larger than the average discrepancy in Iowa (31 percentage points) between completion rates for HPV vaccination and completion rates for other adolescent vaccinations [7]. We identified independently owned pharmacies (n = 14) through internet searches and conducted interviews in May and June 2018. All text from this work may be reprinted freely. Use of these materials should be properly cited

Results

Discussion

Conclusion