Improving Health Equity through Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence with Minority Veterans: A Pharmacist-Led Motivational Interviewing Approach
by Hunter J. Furley, 2023 PharmD Candidate, Emma M. Dreischmeier, 2022 PharmD Candidate, Catherine M. Kuecker, PharmD, BCACP, James A. Gardner, Ellina S. Seckel, PharmD, BCACP, DPLA
"Objectives: Take a proactive approach in addressing vaccine health disparities for minority Veterans. Leverage pharmacists who are well-trained in motivational interviewing (MI) to provide a safe environment to discuss COVID-19 vaccination and encourage vaccine acceptance. Update the electronic medical record (EMR) to accurately reflect Veteran vaccination rates.
Methods: Minority Veterans without prior documentation of COVID-19 vaccination were identified from a report generated by the EMR. Chart reviews were completed to determine eligibility for telephone outreach by pharmacists during a two-week period in March 2021. Pharmacists discussed COVID-19 vaccination with unvaccinated minority Veterans using MI and education to address their concerns and encourage vaccine acceptance, while also updating the EMR with previous vaccinations.
Results: Upon initial chart review, 297 (23%) of the 1,275 included patients had a previous COVID-19 vaccination or future vaccine appointment, leading to updates in the EMR. A total of 988 Veterans (77%) received unscheduled telephone outreach by pharmacists. Of those, 509 (52%) were successfully reached by telephone on the first attempt and 263 (52%) of them met the primary composite endpoint: 136 (27%) agreed to a vaccine appointment, 114 (22%) reported previous vaccination and had their EMRs updated, and 13 (3%) reported a future vaccine appointment elsewhere.
Conclusion: Pharmacist-driven outreach to minority patients effectively improved their vaccination rates through increasing vaccine acceptance and accurately updating the EMR. While this method is time- and resource-intensive, pharmacists may consider implementing similar programs in their practices to address health inequities more broadly."
Keywords: Pharmacists, Veterans, Motivational Interviewing, Electronic Health Records, COVID-19, Vaccination, Vaccines, Educational Status, Appointments and Schedules, Documentation, Telephone
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2021 September/October Table of Contents
"Objectives: Take a proactive approach in addressing vaccine health disparities for minority Veterans. Leverage pharmacists who are well-trained in motivational interviewing (MI) to provide a safe environment to discuss COVID-19 vaccination and encourage vaccine acceptance. Update the electronic medical record (EMR) to accurately reflect Veteran vaccination rates.
Methods: Minority Veterans without prior documentation of COVID-19 vaccination were identified from a report generated by the EMR. Chart reviews were completed to determine eligibility for telephone outreach by pharmacists during a two-week period in March 2021. Pharmacists discussed COVID-19 vaccination with unvaccinated minority Veterans using MI and education to address their concerns and encourage vaccine acceptance, while also updating the EMR with previous vaccinations.
Results: Upon initial chart review, 297 (23%) of the 1,275 included patients had a previous COVID-19 vaccination or future vaccine appointment, leading to updates in the EMR. A total of 988 Veterans (77%) received unscheduled telephone outreach by pharmacists. Of those, 509 (52%) were successfully reached by telephone on the first attempt and 263 (52%) of them met the primary composite endpoint: 136 (27%) agreed to a vaccine appointment, 114 (22%) reported previous vaccination and had their EMRs updated, and 13 (3%) reported a future vaccine appointment elsewhere.
Conclusion: Pharmacist-driven outreach to minority patients effectively improved their vaccination rates through increasing vaccine acceptance and accurately updating the EMR. While this method is time- and resource-intensive, pharmacists may consider implementing similar programs in their practices to address health inequities more broadly."
Keywords: Pharmacists, Veterans, Motivational Interviewing, Electronic Health Records, COVID-19, Vaccination, Vaccines, Educational Status, Appointments and Schedules, Documentation, Telephone
Download PDF
2021 September/October Table of Contents