Education for Healthcare Providers: Impact of Academic Detailing on Reducing Misinformation and Strengthening Influenza Vaccine Recommendations

Background: Recommendations from a trusted healthcare provider have been shown to be the most effective intervention for encouraging patients to be vaccinated. However, providers have reported feeling less prepared to address vaccination questions and having less time to discuss vaccines with patien...

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Main Authors: Kimberly C. McKeirnan, Megan E. Giruzzi, Damianne C. Brand, Nick R. Giruzzi, Kavya Vaitla, Juliet Dang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Pharmacy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/12/6/188
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author Kimberly C. McKeirnan
Megan E. Giruzzi
Damianne C. Brand
Nick R. Giruzzi
Kavya Vaitla
Juliet Dang
author_facet Kimberly C. McKeirnan
Megan E. Giruzzi
Damianne C. Brand
Nick R. Giruzzi
Kavya Vaitla
Juliet Dang
author_sort Kimberly C. McKeirnan
collection DOAJ
description Background: Recommendations from a trusted healthcare provider have been shown to be the most effective intervention for encouraging patients to be vaccinated. However, providers have reported feeling less prepared to address vaccination questions and having less time to discuss vaccines with patients than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers may benefit from a brief update about the available influenza vaccines and vaccination guidelines. Academic detailing is an evidence-based approach for preparing healthcare providers to discuss getting vaccinated with patients. Methods: An academic detailing presentation was developed using influenza statistics, vaccination recommendations, and recent local and national immunization rate data. Academic detailing was conducted with physicians and community pharmacy personnel in Yakima County, Washington, between November 2023 and January 2024. Yakima County is designated as a medically underserved area due to a lack of providers. A pre-detailing survey was conducted to evaluate participant knowledge of current ACIP recommendations and gather opinions about local resident vaccination barriers. A post-detailing survey was conducted to gather participants’ opinions about the value of detailing. Results: Prior to the training, 73% of providers believed it was important to discuss influenza vaccination with patients, but only 52% felt confident in combating misinformation. Healthcare providers believed misinformation and vaccine hesitancy are the most common barriers for Yakima County patients, but recent survey results showed that online scheduling systems, long wait times, and limited appointment hours were the predominant issues reported locally. Two out of 12 community pharmacy personnel and zero resident physicians correctly named all three preferentially recommended influenza vaccines for patients 65 years and older. Overall, 96% of detailing participants reported that the session was valuable, 87% believed it would help them combat vaccine misinformation, and 65% reported planning to have more conversations with patients about influenza vaccination after participating. Conclusion: Physicians and community pharmacy immunizers found the influenza vaccines academic detailing to be valuable. Staying up to date on vaccination guidelines can prepare providers to be confident in having informed conversations with patients about getting vaccinated.
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spelling doaj-art-2443d1ea66aa47b3864aa246c2d689db2025-08-20T02:01:28ZengMDPI AGPharmacy2226-47872024-12-0112618810.3390/pharmacy12060188Education for Healthcare Providers: Impact of Academic Detailing on Reducing Misinformation and Strengthening Influenza Vaccine RecommendationsKimberly C. McKeirnan0Megan E. Giruzzi1Damianne C. Brand2Nick R. Giruzzi3Kavya Vaitla4Juliet Dang5Pharmacotherapy Department, Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yakima, WA 98901, USAPharmacotherapy Department, Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yakima, WA 98901, USAPharmacotherapy Department, Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yakima, WA 98901, USAPharmacotherapy Department, Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yakima, WA 98901, USAPharmacotherapy Department, Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yakima, WA 98901, USACSL Seqirus, Summit, NJ 07901, USABackground: Recommendations from a trusted healthcare provider have been shown to be the most effective intervention for encouraging patients to be vaccinated. However, providers have reported feeling less prepared to address vaccination questions and having less time to discuss vaccines with patients than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers may benefit from a brief update about the available influenza vaccines and vaccination guidelines. Academic detailing is an evidence-based approach for preparing healthcare providers to discuss getting vaccinated with patients. Methods: An academic detailing presentation was developed using influenza statistics, vaccination recommendations, and recent local and national immunization rate data. Academic detailing was conducted with physicians and community pharmacy personnel in Yakima County, Washington, between November 2023 and January 2024. Yakima County is designated as a medically underserved area due to a lack of providers. A pre-detailing survey was conducted to evaluate participant knowledge of current ACIP recommendations and gather opinions about local resident vaccination barriers. A post-detailing survey was conducted to gather participants’ opinions about the value of detailing. Results: Prior to the training, 73% of providers believed it was important to discuss influenza vaccination with patients, but only 52% felt confident in combating misinformation. Healthcare providers believed misinformation and vaccine hesitancy are the most common barriers for Yakima County patients, but recent survey results showed that online scheduling systems, long wait times, and limited appointment hours were the predominant issues reported locally. Two out of 12 community pharmacy personnel and zero resident physicians correctly named all three preferentially recommended influenza vaccines for patients 65 years and older. Overall, 96% of detailing participants reported that the session was valuable, 87% believed it would help them combat vaccine misinformation, and 65% reported planning to have more conversations with patients about influenza vaccination after participating. Conclusion: Physicians and community pharmacy immunizers found the influenza vaccines academic detailing to be valuable. Staying up to date on vaccination guidelines can prepare providers to be confident in having informed conversations with patients about getting vaccinated.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/12/6/188influenza vaccinationacademic detailinghealthcare provider educationvaccination barriers
spellingShingle Kimberly C. McKeirnan
Megan E. Giruzzi
Damianne C. Brand
Nick R. Giruzzi
Kavya Vaitla
Juliet Dang
Education for Healthcare Providers: Impact of Academic Detailing on Reducing Misinformation and Strengthening Influenza Vaccine Recommendations
Pharmacy
influenza vaccination
academic detailing
healthcare provider education
vaccination barriers
title Education for Healthcare Providers: Impact of Academic Detailing on Reducing Misinformation and Strengthening Influenza Vaccine Recommendations
title_full Education for Healthcare Providers: Impact of Academic Detailing on Reducing Misinformation and Strengthening Influenza Vaccine Recommendations
title_fullStr Education for Healthcare Providers: Impact of Academic Detailing on Reducing Misinformation and Strengthening Influenza Vaccine Recommendations
title_full_unstemmed Education for Healthcare Providers: Impact of Academic Detailing on Reducing Misinformation and Strengthening Influenza Vaccine Recommendations
title_short Education for Healthcare Providers: Impact of Academic Detailing on Reducing Misinformation and Strengthening Influenza Vaccine Recommendations
title_sort education for healthcare providers impact of academic detailing on reducing misinformation and strengthening influenza vaccine recommendations
topic influenza vaccination
academic detailing
healthcare provider education
vaccination barriers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/12/6/188
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