title: Measuring North Carolina pharmacists' support for expanded authority to administer human papillomavirus vaccines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess North Carolina pharmacists' level of support for expanded authority to administer human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to identify concerns/benefits about expanded authority and to understand what factors predict support for expanded authority.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 16-item electronic survey was e-mailed to all the pharmacists registered with the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy (n = 9502) between January and February 2011 (1600 pharmacists responded). The survey assessed HPV knowledge, level of support for expanded authority, and comfort level of HPV vaccine administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many (64%) pharmacists were supportive of a rule change/legislation that would authorize pharmacists to administer HPV vaccines. Younger pharmacists were more supportive of expansion when compared to older pharmacists (r = -.138, P < .001). Pharmacists with higher knowledge scores were more supportive of expansion (r = .223, P < .001). Reporting a higher level of comfort in administering HPV vaccines at their pharmacy was significantly and positively correlated with higher level of support for expansion (r = .624, P < .001). In the multivariate analysis, HPV knowledge, comfort level in administering vaccine, patient age, and type of pharmacy were all predictive of higher level of support for expanded authority where employed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large proportion of pharmacists were supportive of an expanded role in providing HPV vaccines. Exploring alternate delivery mechanisms like this one is advantageous.
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Alice R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Richman
authors.forename: Ryan S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: Ashley R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Branham
authors.forename: Brittney N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Partridge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009657:North Carolina; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024382:Professional Role
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
keywords: human papillomavirus; immunizations; laws and regulations; pharmacists; vaccine delivery