An Assessment of Pharmacy School Curricula in Florida and Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV) Administration to Pregnant Women

Autor: Oluyemisi Falope, Cheryl Vamos, Ricardo Izurieta, Ellen Daley, Russell S. Kirby
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Pharmacy, Vol 9, Iss 1, p 63 (2021)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2226-4787
DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy9010063
Popis: Background: There is a high risk for morbidity and mortality in pregnant women associated with influenza virus illness. Vaccine uptake rates in pregnant women remain lower than the targeted Healthy People 2020 goals despite recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Few studies have examined the role of the pharmacist in providing immunization services to pregnant women, fewer still have directly examined the PharmD curricula and the perspectives of pharmacy students on how they perceive their role in providing influenza inactivated vaccine (IIV) to pregnant women. Objective: This study examined the PharmD curricula instruction with regard to immunizing pregnant women and how pharmacy students perceive it. Methods: Semi-structured, in-depth, in-person qualitative interviews were conducted with the six Academic Deans of the accredited schools of pharmacy in Florida, and three focus group sessions were held with third- and fourth-year pharmacy students (n = 18) in Florida. A thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Most academic deans reported providing instruction on immunization in schools with respect to vaccine administration in pregnant women and called for a need for all schools to make it compulsory to include pregnant-women-specific content. Pharmacy students reported a gap in knowledge of content related to administering the IIV in pregnant women, but feel that when presented with the opportunity, they will be willing to provide IIV to pregnant women. Conclusions: Pharmacists are in a good position to play a role in increasing IIV rates among pregnant women. Implications for practice include the need for incorporation of pregnancy-specific content to immunization curricula.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals