ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate health outcomes and acceptance of pharmacists' recommendations of travel health including prevalance of immunizations, sunburn, insect-borne diseases, traveler's diarrhea, and altitude sickness, and assess patient satisfaction with the pretravel health clinic. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study design. SETTING: Central Virginia, July 2011 to June 2012. PARTICIPANTS: Patients 18 years and older who had an appointment with the pharmacist for pretravel health. INTERVENTION: Interview/survey administered to patients by telephone. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Health outcomes, acceptance rates of pharmacist's travel health recommendations, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Of 356 patients eligible to participate in the study, 103 patients participated, 30 patients declined, and 223 patients could not be reached by telephone (29% response rate). Pharmacists' recommendations for travel immunizations (100% acceptance rate for yellow fever and 82% for Typhoid) and nonpharmacologic preventive measures (prevention of sunburn, traveler's diarrhea, insect bites, and altitude sickness) were well accepted by respondents, and occurrence of these adverse events was low. Patients were satisfied overall with the education and services that the pharmacist delivered in the pretravel health clinic. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists providing services in pretravel health clinics can have substantial impact on the health of patients traveling internationally.
Subject(s)
Community Pharmacy Services , Pharmacies , Pharmacists , Preventive Health Services/methods , Professional Role , Travel Medicine/methods , Adult , Altitude Sickness/prevention & control , Attitude of Health Personnel , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diarrhea/prevention & control , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Immunization , Insect Bites and Stings/prevention & control , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Education as Topic , Patient Satisfaction , Pharmacists/psychology , Program Evaluation , Retrospective Studies , Sunburn/prevention & control , Surveys and Questionnaires , VirginiaABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe the procedures for implementing a comprehensive pretravel health program in a supermarket chain pharmacy. SETTING: Central Virginia (Richmond, Fredericksburg, Williamsburg, and Roanoke) between 2000 and 2008. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Ukrop's is a local supermarket chain with 29 stores, 20 of which have pharmacies. Ukrop's Pharmacy offers enhanced patient care services, including medication therapy management, wellness services, diabetes education and management, smoking cessation, and immunizations. PRACTICE INNOVATION: Comprehensive pretravel health program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of patients participating in the pretravel health program and number of vaccinations administered by pharmacists. RESULTS: An average of 1,000 patients per year participate in the pretravel health program, and approximately 1,900 vaccines are administered each year. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive pretravel program is a successful service in a supermarket chain pharmacy. It provides another option for travelers seeking pretravel health care.
