Determining Patient Preference for a Pharmacist-Administered Influenza Vaccination Program: Type of Visit and Contact Method for Annual Notification

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine patient preference for the type of visit for the receipt of the influenza vaccine from the pharmacist and to determine patient preference for contact method for annual notification of the influenza vaccine program. METHODS: This was a descriptive study using a short telephone survey. The first dependent variable was the preferred type of visit comparing appointment-based and predetermined walk-in clinics. The second dependent variable was the preferred method of contact for annual notification of a pharmacist administered influenza vaccination program (telephone, US post mail, email). RESULTS: The telephone survey was completed by 206 patients. Overall, study participants preferred appointment-based visits ( 81.2 %; p < 0.05) compared to a predetermined walk-in clinic (18.8%). Overall, study participants significantly preferred to be contacted for annual notification of a pharmacist administered influenza vaccination program via telephone (75.7%; p< 0.05) compared with US post mail and email. Based on the percentages observed, the second preferred method of contact was email (12.6%) and US post mail was the third preferred method of contact (11.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Patient preference for type of visit for pharmacist-administered influenza vaccine was appointment-based as opposed to predetermined walk-in clinic based. Patient preference for contact method for annual notification was telephone as opposed to email or postal mail.