Pharmacy patient perceptions of pharmacy technicians as immunizers

Techs as Teachers: A Decade's Experience Utilizing Pharmacy Technicians in a Doctor of Pharmacy Program

Pharmacy technician responsibilities, certifications, and duties across pharmacy settings have evolved in recent years, allowing them to potentially become a valuable resource for skills-based pharmacy education. Our institution has employed pharmacy technicians since 2014. This brief commentary addresses the training and roles of pharmacy technician staff in our skills-based education curriculum.

A qualitative evaluation of pharmacy technician opinions about administering immunizations

Introduction

Pharmacy technicians began administering immunizations in Idaho State as part of a new administrative rule in 2017. Rapid expansion of pharmacy technicians as immunizers occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies demonstrate the success of having technicians as immunizers but, the opinions of technicians themselves about immunizing have not been explored.

Methods

Key informant interviews were conducted to evaluate the opinions of certified and immunization-trained pharmacy technicians in the State of Idaho. A key informant interview script was utilized and included questions regarding satisfaction with current position, feelings about responsibility in the pharmacy, confidence administering immunizations to patients, changes patient interactions after becoming immunization-trained, support in the pharmacy, and opinion about expansion of immunization training for technicians to other states. The aim of this research was to gather the opinions of pharmacy technicians regarding the impact of administering immunizations on job satisfaction and career outlook.

Results

Fifteen pharmacy technicians were interviewed. All participants believed their role as immunizers improved job satisfaction and feelings of being a valuable part of the pharmacy team. Technicians also believed being able to immunize aided in pharmacy workflow, decreased wait time for immunizations at their respective pharmacies, and increased the number of immunizations being administered. Respondents also believed technicians should be allowed to administer immunizations nation-wide but also felt strongly that the decision to immunize should be up to each individual pharmacy technician.

Conclusion

Immunizing technicians in this study believe that this advanced role has had a positive impact on their job satisfaction, feeling valued in the workplace, and likelihood of staying in their current position. Immunizing has also led to positive engagement with patients and beliefs that they are providing an impactful service to their communities.

Patients' opinions on participation in patient-centered outcomes research in community pharmacies: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) often brings patient voices, thoughts, and opinions into the research process, allowing patients to have a say in the research process from project inception to dissemination of results. Community pharmacy teams are well-situated to engage patients in their own health and in research, given their trusting relationships with patients and access in communities.

OBJECTIVE

To gather patients' opinions on participation in PCOR at their local community pharmacy.

METHODS

Four regional focus groups representing western, central, northeastern, and southeastern Pennsylvania were conducted. A single community pharmacy in each region recruited patients to participate in each focus group. A focus group discussion guide was developed and reviewed by a Stakeholder Advisory Board that consisted patients, pharmacists, and researchers. Questions focused on patients' relationships with their pharmacy and pharmacist, perceptions of research occurring at their local pharmacy, and patient engagement methods. Focus group sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and independently coded by 2 investigators. Coding discrepancies were reconciled through discussion, and a qualitative inductive thematic analysis was conducted by the research team.

RESULTS

A total of 44 patients participated in one of 4 focus groups. Patients provided insights into what would make them more likely to participate in PCOR at their local community pharmacy. Four themes emerged from the discussions: (1) Understanding the impact to one's health or community affects participation; (2) Patients prefer to schedule research activities at times outside of prescription pick-up or drop-off; (3) Trusted relationships can be leveraged for recruitment; and (4) Face-to-face engagement is preferred for participant recruitment.

CONCLUSION

Patients want to engage in research in a way that is respectful of their time and matters to them. Strong patient-pharmacist relationships are essential for patient engagement in and acceptance of PCOR opportunities in community pharmacies. Community pharmacies may be rich locations to engage patients in PCOR.

Participation of pharmacy technicians in clinical and patient-centered care practices: A state-wide survey in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Identifying the involvement of pharmacy technicians (PTs) in nonclinical and clinical duties will provide insight for improved pharmaceutical services.

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the involvement of PTs in nonclinical tasks, patient-centered services, and more specialized patient care services and the difference in practice between hospital and community PTs.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 5-point Likert scale, and an analysis of data was performed using IBM SPSS version 21.0 (IBM). Descriptive statistics was done, and P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study was conducted in community and hospital pharmacies in Ogun State, Nigeria, among 100 PTs. Outcome measures were the involvement of PTs in clinical roles and other pharmaceutical care practices.

RESULTS

A total of 73 (73.0%) participated in the study, 45 (61.6%) and 28 (38.4%) practiced in hospital and community pharmacies, respectively. From the 11 listed nonclinical activities, only stocking of medications 61 (83.6%) and processing clients' or patient's charges 48 (65.8%) were often or very often performed. More than half of the participants often performed each of all 7 listed patient-centered activities, particularly empathy and confidentiality 62 (84.9%), providing information and referrals to patients or clients 56 (76.7%), and identifying patients or clients for counseling 51 (69.9%), respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed between the practice areas (P > 0.05). Only 2 of the 11 listed specialized clinical activities were performed by more than half of the respondents: screening prescriptions for completeness and authenticity 43 (58.9%) and alerting the pharmacist of drug therapy problems 46 (63.0%). Differences in the practice of specialized tasks was statistically significant for consultations (P = 0.002) and resolution of clinical conflict (P = 0.040) between the practice areas.

CONCLUSION

Study participants were less frequently involved in nonclinical activities but often involved in clinical activities. They also participated in specialized clinical tasks at lesser frequencies. Differences were observed between the practice areas in performance of nonclinical and specialized activities. Strategies to fill in the observed gaps should be explored for improved practice.

Pharmacy technician-administered immunizations: A five-year review

In October 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued guidance authorizing trained pharmacy technicians in all states to administer immunizations. Given that this action is temporary, it will be necessary for states to adopt their own legislation or regulations to sustain these efforts beyond the coronavirus pandemic. At least 11 different immunization administration training programs have emerged for pharmacy technicians. An increasing number of publications have emerged on pharmacy technician immunization administration, demonstrating the ability to train technicians and have them safely administer immunizations in practice. Supervising pharmacists reported initial hesitancy but strong acceptance of delegating this task after experience in practice. States should look to expand and make permanent the authority of pharmacy technicians to ensure these benefits can continue to be realized after the HHS guidance expires.