A pharmacist-driven academic detailing program to increase adult pneumococcal vaccination

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Pneumococcal immunization recommendations require consistent provider knowledge and patient awareness.
• Pharmacist-led initiatives can bridge gaps in vaccine education and uptake.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a statewide, pharmacist-led education campaign aimed at enhancing knowledge and awareness of pneumococcal immunization guidelines.
• To evaluate the impact of this campaign on vaccination rates and pneumococcal disease incidence.

Main Methods:

• Development of a clinical pathway (decision-support tool) for health professionals on pneumococcal vaccine indications and schedules.
• Implementation of academic detailing and community outreach (radio ads, patient materials) across Rhode Island.
• Evaluation through provider surveys and analysis of pneumococcal disease rates before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• Over 400 practice sites reached, with 92% of surveyed providers reporting improved knowledge of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23).
• Significant increase in pneumococcal vaccination rates (absolute difference 3.9%, P = 0.01).
• Significant decrease in pneumococcal disease between pre-intervention and intervention periods (-2.74/10,000 discharges, P = 0.02), with a notable reduction in invasive pneumococcal disease.

Conclusions:

• The pharmacist-driven educational outreach program effectively improved provider knowledge and perceptions regarding pneumococcal vaccination.
• The campaign led to increased vaccination uptake and a significant reduction in pneumococcal disease incidence.