North Carolina family practice physicians' perceptions of pharmacists as vaccinators.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether family practice physicians are aware that pharmacists can administer vaccines and assess their support of pharmacists as vaccinators.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
North Carolina.


METHODS
571 family practice physicians.


METHODS
Mail survey.


METHODS
Physician attitudes toward pharmacists' involvement with a variety of vaccines and patient populations.


RESULTS
A total of 25% of physicians correctly reported that pharmacists could administer vaccines in North Carolina, a state that had recently passed legislation permitting this practice. Almost 50% of the physicians supported pharmacists administering the influenza vaccine. Pharmacist administration of other vaccines received less support. Physicians who were newer to family practice had more positive attitudes than physicians who were in practice for longer periods of time.


CONCLUSIONS
While agreeing that the role of the pharmacist in patient care is becoming more important, physicians were neither very knowledgeable about nor supportive of pharmacists as vaccinators.
Welch
Adam C
AC
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing, Wilkes University, PO Box 111, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766, USA. welch@wilkes.edu
Ferreri
Stefanie P
SP
Blalock
Susan J
SJ
Caiola
Stephen M
SM
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D009657:North Carolina; D010465:Perception; D010595:Pharmacists; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024382:Professional Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination
D007252:Influenza Vaccines