Improving pharmacy-based HPV vaccine delivery through communication training: Findings from a pilot feasibility study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pharmacy Practice
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage in U.S. adolescents falls short of national goals.
• Community pharmacies offer accessible vaccination opportunities, but staff require enhanced skills for identifying eligible adolescents and communicating with parents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the acceptability and feasibility of a team-based HPV vaccine communication training program for community pharmacy staff.

Main Methods:

• A pre/post-test design was employed across three Washington state community pharmacies.
• The training integrated vaccine eligibility forecasting, 5A's counseling, and the Announcement Approach recommendation strategy.
• Pharmacy staff completed surveys on behavioral outcomes, and adolescent vaccination data were audited pre- and post-training.

Main Results:

• The proportion of staff reporting strong HPV vaccine recommendations significantly increased from 22% to 67% (p=0.016).
• Staff self-efficacy improved in personal interactions, goal setting, and addressing vaccine hesitancy.
• Training was rated favorably for acceptability (4.1/5), appropriateness (4.0/5), and feasibility (4.1/5).

Conclusions:

• The team-based HPV vaccine communication training is acceptable and feasible for pharmacy staff.
• The training enhanced staff-reported recommendation behaviors, though short-term vaccination delivery changes were inconsistent.
• Further multisite studies with extended follow-up are necessary to determine the impact on overall HPV vaccination uptake.