title: Impact of automated telephone messaging on zoster vaccination rates in community pharmacies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the impact of an automated outbound telephone messaging system on herpes zoster (HZ) vaccinations among older adults in the community pharmacy setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  16 grocery store chain community pharmacies in Georgia and Tennessee, between December 2006 and May 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults 60 years or older who filled at least one prescription at a participating study pharmacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 30-second automated outbound telephone message was delivered to patient households monthly during the first week of March through May 2007. The message advertised that older adults should speak with their pharmacist about the risk for HZ and the availability of a new vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  HZ vaccinations based on pharmacy profile records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 3 months, 146 and 46 vaccinations were administered to older adults among the study cohort populations, translating into HZ vaccination rates of 2.60% and 0.72% at intervention and control pharmacies, respectively (odds ratio 3.69 [95% CI 2.64-5.15], P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of an automated outbound telephone messaging tool to inform older adults about their risk for HZ and the availability of a vaccine significantly improved vaccination rates in the community pharmacy setting.
authors.affiliation: Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Box 70657, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA. hessr@etsu.edu
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hess
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D010594:Pharmacies; D013689:Telephone; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine