Determinants to immunization information system implementation in independent community pharmacies.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Pharmacy Practice

Background:

• Immunization Information Systems (IISs) are crucial for consolidated vaccination data.
• Limited pharmacy participation in IISs, particularly in Alabama, hinders comprehensive vaccine tracking.
• Understanding barriers is vital as pharmacists play an increasing role in lifelong immunizations, especially in rural areas with limited primary care access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers and facilitators to IIS implementation in rural, independent community pharmacies in Alabama.
• To understand the specific challenges faced by these pharmacies in adopting IIS technology.

Main Methods:

• Conducted qualitative interviews with 16 rural community pharmacy personnel and 9 IIS experts.
• Included participants from states with high IIS participation and Alabama (low participation).
• Utilized deductive coding with CFIR constructs and inter-rater reliability checks to identify influential factors.

Main Results:

• Eleven constructs significantly influenced IIS implementation, including adaptability, complexity, compatibility, available resources, and access to information.
• Other key factors were needs of those served, peer pressure, external policies, knowledge/beliefs about IIS, and stakeholder/participant engagement.
• 32 of 39 CFIR constructs were mentioned during interviews.

Conclusions:

• This study explored perceived barriers and facilitators to IIS implementation in rural, independent community pharmacies.
• Identified factors can inform strategies to improve IIS uptake and participation in these settings.
• Addressing these barriers is essential for enhancing public health through improved vaccination data management.