Perceived Role, Identity and Experiences of Pharmacists and the Potential Impact on COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake per Louisiana Region: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Some of the lowest COVID-19 community vaccination rates in America are found in Louisiana. This study investigated: (1) barriers that Louisiana pharmacists encountered during the pandemic; and (2) the effect of pharmacists' role and identity confidence on willingness to enforce vaccine mandates, and COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Fifty-four community pharmacists from nine regions of Louisiana participated in the study. Pharmacists completed questionnaires about: personal demographics, patient population, vaccination encouragement, COVID-19 concerns, and vaccination administration rates. The importance of feeling like a trusted voice in the community, as well as professional perception and self-assurance, were measured using Likert scale questions. During focus groups, participants discussed experiences with the COVID-19 vaccination rollout and vaccination-related obstacles. As the pandemic progressed, pharmacists reported being overworked, understaffed, and overburdened with new responsibilities. In regions with lower vaccination rates, pharmacists were less likely to feel at ease enforcing vaccine mandates. Independent pharmacists were less comfortable enforcing vaccine mandates than chain pharmacists but had more positive perceptions of their role and identity. This study contributes to further understanding of pharmacy workflow obstacles and pharmacists' perceptions of their professional roles and identities in the community.

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 Phased Vaccine Eligibility on COVID-19 Vaccine Intent among African Americans in Southeastern Louisiana: A Community-Based, Cohort Study.

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of eligibility for the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine at the time of the vaccine rollout as a predictor of vaccine intent within the African American community. METHODS: Four hundred eighty-seven African American participants in southeastern Louisiana were surveyed from January-April of 2021, with follow-up surveys occurring in Fall 2021. Survey domains included demographics, vaccine hesitancy, discrimination in the healthcare setting, and knowledge and experiences with COVID-19. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: Participants eligible for the vaccine were 1.61 times as likely to express positive vaccine intent versus ineligible participants. Additional predictors of vaccine intent were age, insurance status and coverage, and female sex at birth. In the multivariable logistic analysis, eligible individuals were 2.07 times as likely to receive the vaccine versus ineligible individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccine eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine was a significant predictor of intent to vaccinate in the African American community. Younger individuals were less likely to have a positive intent, correlating with the eligibility of ages 16+ occurring 5 months post-vaccine approval.

A Culturally Competent Vaccine Hesitancy Educational Model for Community Pharmacists to Increase Vaccine Uptake, Louisiana, 2021-2022.

In February 2022, an educational model was launched to train Louisiana pharmacists to become positive influencers of vaccination decisions via targeted, culturally competent interventions, with the objective of improving COVID-19 vaccine uptake in communities. A total of 47 pharmacists completed the course, and more than 90% noted that the education would help them optimize vaccine acceptance in their community practice settings. The pharmacists will participate in vaccine surveillance to assess the success of the educational model intervention and predictors of vaccine uptake. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(S9):S900-S903. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307070).

Patients' perception of community pharmacists as healthcare providers and willingness to participate in pharmacist services: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the extent to which patients identify community pharmacists as healthcare providers and the relationship of this perception to a willingness to engage in pharmacist-provided services. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a retail pharmacy and a patient centered medical home (PCMH) in the New Orleans, Louisiana metropolitan area. The survey assessed patients' perception of community pharmacists and their roles in the provision of healthcare, as well as willingness to participate in commonly offered pharmacist-provided services. RESULTS: This study included 49 participants who interacted with pharmacy personnel to receive prescriptions regularly. Of the 49 patients surveyed, 91.8% perceived community pharmacists to be healthcare providers and this perception significantly impacted patient willingness to participate in medication therapy management, medication optimization, and travel vaccination services. Other services were not significantly impacted by perception. CONCLUSION: A greater percentage of patients perceived community pharmacists as healthcare providers. This affirmative perception positively impacted patient willingness to participate in several pharmacist-provided services. Since no comparative studies are available, further study is needed to assess consistency of observations and assess innovative ways to highlight pharmacists' cognitive attributes and increase participation in pharmacist-provided services.