Norwegian Community Pharmacists’ Experiences with COVID-19 Vaccination—A Qualitative Interview Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Setting, Sampling, and Participants
2.2. Data Collection
2.3. Data Analysis
2.4. Ethical Considerations
3. Results
3.1. Creative Solutions
‘Then we had one dose left, and I didn’t know what to do with it. Then I ran over to the grocery store next door and shouted “Hi, is there anyone who needs vaccine?” The cashier needed one, and she went with me and got it’.(Pharmacist 12)
‘In the beginning, it was really difficult. Two-meter distance is difficult to achieve. What we did was to open the pharmacy before opening hours for vaccination and move the chairs to the correct distance using more than the vaccination room in the pharmacy. When the requirement became one meter, we could do the vaccination during opening hours, but just a few vaccinations at a time as the distance requirement was really important to uphold’.(Pharmacist 12)
3.2. Organising and Making Resources Available
‘If we have personnel enough, one vaccinator could carry out the service, and it works well. When we are short of personnel, and everybody has to do everything, you have to be here and there and everywhere at the same time, the service will be messy’.(Pharmacist 3)
‘Unlike other vaccination that often are drop in, we could plan. And then we would know how to use our resources at all times. If we were clever enough; we should be able to be that, and we had the resources (staff) available and sufficient time, there was no problem’.(Pharmacist 5)
‘It seems like there was a gap, which it (the COVID-19 vaccination) filled. It seems like it was room for it; we just did not realise it beforehand’.(Pharmacist 8)
3.3. Professionally Satisfying and an Important Mission
‘It was good to feel that I actually could do something. Normally you just sit down and do nothing, keeping away from people.’ (Pharmacist 1); ‘I felt the joy of contributing in something so large, in the critical situation. I was really a proud pharmacist then’.(Pharmacist 8)
‘I think many people see us like staff in a store, more than healthcare professionals. So, when we do this (the COVID-19 vaccination) and the people realise that these people know something about health. And, of course, we get all sorts of questions when the patient sits in the room and get their vaccine. So I think this service is a good advertisement for us pharmacists’.(Pharmacist 4)
4. Discussion
Strengths and Limitations
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Folkehelseinstituttet. [Norwegian Institute of Public Health] Vaksinasjon mot Korona i Kommunene. [COVID-19 Vaccination in the Municipalities] 2023. Available online: https://www.fhi.no/ss/korona/koronavaksinasjonsprogrammet/koronavaksinasjonsveilederen-for-kommuner-og-helseforetak/koronavaksinasjon-i-kommunene/kommunenes-plikter-og-oppgaver/?term= (accessed on 4 August 2023).
- Skreiberg, E.C.M. Oslo-Apotek Klare for Innbyggervaksinering. [Pharmcies in Oslo Ready for Vaccination of the Population] 2021. Available online: https://www.apotek.no/nyhetsarkiv/aktuelt-om-apotek/oslo-apotek-klare-for-innbyggervaksinering (accessed on 4 August 2023).
- Poudel, A.; Lau, E.T.; Deldot, M.; Campbell, C.; Waite, N.M.; Nissen, L.M. Pharmacist role in vaccination: Evidence and challenges. Vaccine 2019, 37, 5939–5945. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Paudyal, V.; Fialová, D.; Henman, M.C.; Hazen, A.; Okuyan, B.; Lutters, M.; Cadogan, C.; da Costa, F.A.; Galfrascoli, E.; Pudritz, Y.M.; et al. Pharmacists’ involvement in COVID-19 vaccination across Europe: A situational analysis of current practice and policy. Int. J. Clin. Pharm. 2021, 43, 1139–1148. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Bach, A.T.; Goad, J.A. The role of community pharmacy-based vaccination in the USA: Current practice and future directions. Integr. Pharm. Res. Pract. 2015, 4, 67–77. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- El Hajj, M.S.; Al-Ziftawi, N.; Stewart, D.; Al-Khater, D.M.A.Y. Community pharmacists’ participation in adult vaccination: A cross-sectional survey based on the theoretical domains framework. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 2023, 89, 773–786. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Waaseth, M.; Forsdahl, S.; Halvorsen, K.H. Influensavaksine, en spørreundersøkelse blant apotekkunder. [Influenza-vaccine-a survey among pharmacy customers]. Nor. Farm. Tidsskr. 2021, 7, 43–49. [Google Scholar]
- Nilsen, L.B. Vitusapotek først ute med influensavaksinering. [Vitus pharmacy first with inluenza vaccination]. Nor. Farmasøytisk Tidsskr. 2017, 10, 6–7. [Google Scholar]
- Gerges, S.; Gudzak, V.; Bowles, S.; Logeman, C.; Abu Fadaleh, S.; Bucci, L.M.; Taddio, A. Experiences of community pharmacists administering COVID-19 vaccinations: A qualitative study. Can. Pharm. J./Rev. Pharm. Can. 2023, 156((Suppl. S1)), 7S–17S. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Murray, E.; Bieniek, K.; Del Aguila, M.; Egodage, S.; Litzinger, S.; Mazouz, A.; Mills, H.; Liska, J. Impact of pharmacy intervention on influenza vaccination acceptance: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Int. J. Clin. Pharm. 2021, 43, 1163–1172. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Romero-Mancilla, M.S.; Mora-Vargas, J.; Ruiz, A. Pharmacy-based immunization: A systematic review. Front. Public Health 2023, 11, 1152556. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gauld, N.; Johnstone, E.; McMichael, I.; Braund, R. Pharmacists’ views and desires regarding pharmacist administration of vaccines in New Zealand. Int. J. Pharm. Pract. 2021, 29, 126–133. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Sandelowski, M. Focus on research methods-whatever happened to qualitative description? Res. Nurs. Health 2000, 23, 334–340. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- DiCicco-Bloom, B.; Crabtree, B.F. The qualitative research interview. Med. Educ. 2006, 40, 314–321. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tong, A.; Sainsbury, P.; Craig, J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): A 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int. J. Qual. Health Care 2007, 19, 349–357. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Malterud, K. Systematic text condensation: A strategy for qualitative analysis. Scand. J. Public Health 2012, 40, 795–805. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Malterud, K.; Siersma, V.D.; Guassora, A.D. Sample size in qualitative interview studies: Guided by information power. Qual. Health Res. 2016, 26, 1753–1760. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Merks, P.; Religioni, U.; Bilmin, K.; Lewicki, J.; Jakubowska, M.; Waksmundzka-Walczuk, A.; Czerw, A.; Barańska, A.; Bogusz, J.; Plagens-Rotman, K.; et al. Readiness and willingness to provide immunization services after pilot vaccination training: A survey among community pharmacists trained and not trained in immunization during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 599. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Staksrud, E.; Kolstad, I.; Bang, K.J.; Bomann_larsen, L.; Fretheim, K.; Granaas, R.C.; Harpviken, K.B.; Haugen, H.Ø.; Jakobsen, K.A.; Johnsen, R.; et al. Forskningsetiske Retningslinjer for Samfunnsvitenskap Oghumaniora; Guidelines for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities; Forskningsetiske Komiteer: Oslo, Norway, 2021. [Google Scholar]
- Gravlee, E.; Pittman, E.; Sparkmon, W.; Imeri, H.; Cox, H.-F.; Barnard, M. COVID-19 Vaccination Engagement and Barriers among Mississippi Pharmacists. Pharmacy 2021, 9, 167. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- NOU Norges Offentlige Utredninger, Myndighetenes Håndtering Av Koronapandemien—Del 2, [The Norwegian Government’s Management of the Coronavirus Pandemic—Part 2]. Regjeringen.no, 2022. Available online: https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/nou-2022-5/id2910055/ (accessed on 20 August 2023).
- Jarab, A.S.; Al-Qerem, W.; Mukattash, T.L. Community pharmacists’ willingness and barriers to provide vaccination during COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan. Hum. Vaccines Immunother. 2022, 18, e2016009. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Durand, C.; Douriez, E.; Chappuis, A.; Poulain, F.; Yazdanpanah, Y.; Lariven, S.; Lescure, F.-X.; Peiffer-Smadja, N. Contributions and challenges of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. J. Pharm. Policy Pract. 2022, 15, 43. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gerges, S.; Peter, E.; Bowles, S.K.; Diamond, S.; Bucci, L.M.; Resnick, A.; Taddio, A. Pharmacists as vaccinators: An analysis of their experiences and perceptions of their new role. Hum. Vaccines Immunother. 2018, 14, 471–477. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Pantasri, T. Expanded roles of community pharmacists in COVID-19: A scoping literature review. J. Am. Pharm. Assoc. 2022, 62, 649–657. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Burson, R.C.; Buttenheim, A.M.; Armstrong, A.; Feemster, K.A. Community pharmacies as sites of adult vaccination: A systematic review. Hum. Vaccines Immunother. 2016, 12, 3146–3159. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Maidment, I.; Young, E.; MacPhee, M.; Booth, A.; Zaman, H.; Breen, J.; Hilton, A.; Kelly, T.; Wong, G. Rapid realist review of the role of community pharmacy in the public health response to COVID-19. BMJ Open 2021, 11, e050043. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hess, K.; Bach, A.; Won, K.; Seed, S.M. Community pharmacists roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. J. Pharm. Pract. 2022, 35, 469–476. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Rose, O.; Erzkamp, S.; Schöbel, W.; Grajeda, M.; Köberlein–Neu, J. COVID-19 vaccinations in German pharmacies: A survey on patient and provider satisfaction. Vaccine 2022, 40, 5207–5212. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Stämpfli, D.; la Torre, A.M.-D.; Simi, E.; Du Pasquier, S.; Berger, J.; Burden, A.M. Community pharmacist-administered COVID-19 vaccinations: A pilot customer survey on satisfaction and motivation to get vaccinated. Vaccines 2021, 9, 1320. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- MacDougall, D.; Halperin, B.A.; Isenor, J.; MacKinnon-Cameron, D.; Li, L.; McNeil, S.A.; Langley, J.M.; Halperin, S.A. Routine immunization of adults by pharmacists: Attitudes and beliefs of the Canadian public and health care providers. Hum. Vaccines Immunother. 2016, 12, 623–631. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hilt, B. Arbeid og helse. [Work and health] Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. J. Nor. Med. Assoc. 2017, 14/15, 137. [Google Scholar]
- Kvale, S. Doing interviews. In An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interwieving; Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; London, UK; New Dehli, India, 2008. [Google Scholar]
Gender | Age (Years) | Work Experience as a Pharmacist (Years) | Education | Certified as a Vaccinator |
---|---|---|---|---|
Male: n = 3 Female: n = 10 | 20–34: n = 3 35–49: n = 7 50–64: n = 3 | 1–10: n = 4 11–20: n = 4 21–30: n = 4 31–40: n = 1 | Bachelor’s degree: n = 5 Master’s degree: n = 8 | Yes: n = 12 No: n = 1 |
Main Theme | Creative Solutions | Organising and Making Resources Available | Professionally Satisfying and an Important Mission |
---|---|---|---|
Subtheme | Unused vaccine doses | Workflow | Satisfying to contribute |
Requirements | System for organisation | Professionally evolving | |
Shift in tasks | Being visible |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Aarnes, R.V.; Nilsen, M.K. Norwegian Community Pharmacists’ Experiences with COVID-19 Vaccination—A Qualitative Interview Study. Pharmacy 2023, 11, 181. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy11060181
Aarnes RV, Nilsen MK. Norwegian Community Pharmacists’ Experiences with COVID-19 Vaccination—A Qualitative Interview Study. Pharmacy. 2023; 11(6):181. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy11060181
Chicago/Turabian StyleAarnes, Ragnhild Vold, and Marianne Kollerøs Nilsen. 2023. "Norwegian Community Pharmacists’ Experiences with COVID-19 Vaccination—A Qualitative Interview Study" Pharmacy 11, no. 6: 181. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy11060181