Issue: In Friuli Venezia-Giulia Region (Italy), accessibility to health services can be substantially influenced by the geographical context. In fact, during recent years, at-risk inhabitants of mountain villages were less likely to be vaccinated against flu in comparison with other areas. To tackle inequalities, local pharmacies were identified as a proximity health promotion network to be engaged in the 2019/2020 flu vaccination campaign. Description: Within the mountainous Carnia District, 43 pharmacists from 25 pharmacies were trained before the campaign to promote flu shot uptake through counseling in over 65 and high-risk subjects. After counseling, subjects were directed to General Practitioners who performed vaccine administration and registration. Anti-flu counseling offered by pharmacists was traced and vaccine coverage against influenza among target categories was considered as the principal outcome. A reward was granted to pharmacies in relation to flu vaccine conversions among counseled subjects. Results: Between October 2019 and January 2020, a total of 2,748 counseling sessions with people accessing pharmacies for any reason were conducted. Within Carnia District, flu vaccine was administered to 6,484 out of 10,895 (59.5%) over 65 subjects in comparison with 5,569/10,251 (54.3%) who got their flu shot during the 2018/19 flu season, achieving an improvement of+5.2%. This result exceeded the regional global outcome reaching +2.2%, being the best among all districts. In particular, in comparison with the previous year, +10.2% over 65 and +37.8% at-risk subjects were vaccinated against flu in Carnia District. Lessons: Pharmacies played an important role in promoting flu vaccination locally, and proved their potential contribution in tackling inequalities related to difficult contexts. The collaboration of health professionals, including pharmacists, should be taken into consideration to improve health promotion and health services access. Key messages: Pharmacies are trustworthy healthcare system access points for people, therefore their role in health promotion should be fostered. Pharmacists can help in improving flu shot uptake in contexts where health service access is hindered.

Health promoting pharmacies in Northern-Italy: more than drugstores

Brunelli, L
;
Tonutti, G;Brusaferro, S
2020-01-01

Abstract

Issue: In Friuli Venezia-Giulia Region (Italy), accessibility to health services can be substantially influenced by the geographical context. In fact, during recent years, at-risk inhabitants of mountain villages were less likely to be vaccinated against flu in comparison with other areas. To tackle inequalities, local pharmacies were identified as a proximity health promotion network to be engaged in the 2019/2020 flu vaccination campaign. Description: Within the mountainous Carnia District, 43 pharmacists from 25 pharmacies were trained before the campaign to promote flu shot uptake through counseling in over 65 and high-risk subjects. After counseling, subjects were directed to General Practitioners who performed vaccine administration and registration. Anti-flu counseling offered by pharmacists was traced and vaccine coverage against influenza among target categories was considered as the principal outcome. A reward was granted to pharmacies in relation to flu vaccine conversions among counseled subjects. Results: Between October 2019 and January 2020, a total of 2,748 counseling sessions with people accessing pharmacies for any reason were conducted. Within Carnia District, flu vaccine was administered to 6,484 out of 10,895 (59.5%) over 65 subjects in comparison with 5,569/10,251 (54.3%) who got their flu shot during the 2018/19 flu season, achieving an improvement of+5.2%. This result exceeded the regional global outcome reaching +2.2%, being the best among all districts. In particular, in comparison with the previous year, +10.2% over 65 and +37.8% at-risk subjects were vaccinated against flu in Carnia District. Lessons: Pharmacies played an important role in promoting flu vaccination locally, and proved their potential contribution in tackling inequalities related to difficult contexts. The collaboration of health professionals, including pharmacists, should be taken into consideration to improve health promotion and health services access. Key messages: Pharmacies are trustworthy healthcare system access points for people, therefore their role in health promotion should be fostered. Pharmacists can help in improving flu shot uptake in contexts where health service access is hindered.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11390/1191275
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