Immunization Education in US Pharmacy Colleges and Schools. 2019

William Allan Prescott, and Christian Bernhardi
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Buffalo, New York.

Objective. To determine the extent to which immunization is covered at US colleges and schools of pharmacy and to characterize what immunization- and vaccine-related content is taught. Methods. An invitation to complete a 23-question online survey instrument was sent to 128 accredited US pharmacy colleges and schools. Frequency and descriptive statistics were used to characterize the data, and the Fisher exact test was used to compare opportunities for students to engage in introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs and APPEs) at schools located in states that did or did not allow pharmacy students and interns to vaccinate. Results. Eighty accredited US pharmacy schools responded to the survey (62.5% response rate). The APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Program was offered by 73 (91.3%) schools, while a different immunization certificate program was offered by 5 (6.3%) schools. Sixty-nine (86.3%) and 36 (45%) of the schools had integrated immunization topics into their required core curriculum (mean 8.4 contact hours) and elective curriculum, respectively. Of the 27 immunization-related topics identified, 23 (85.2%) were covered by at least 80% of schools. More than 80% of schools offered IPPEs and more than 90% offered APPEs that provided opportunities for students to engage in immunization-related activities. Schools located in states that permitted pharmacy students and interns to vaccinate more commonly offered immunization-related opportunities through IPPEs (86.5% vs. 0%) and APPEs (97.3% vs. 20%) than those schools in states that did not. Conclusion. Immunization curricula at US colleges and schools of pharmacy appear to align with ACPE standards, as well as the recommendations of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Furthermore, nearly all of the schools are using the APhA Program to do so.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007114 Immunization Deliberate stimulation of the host's immune response. ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION involves administration of ANTIGENS or IMMUNOLOGIC ADJUVANTS. PASSIVE IMMUNIZATION involves administration of IMMUNE SERA or LYMPHOCYTES or their extracts (e.g., transfer factor, immune RNA) or transplantation of immunocompetent cell producing tissue (thymus or bone marrow). Immunologic Stimulation,Immunostimulation,Sensitization, Immunologic,Variolation,Immunologic Sensitization,Immunological Stimulation,Sensitization, Immunological,Stimulation, Immunologic,Immunizations,Immunological Sensitization,Immunological Sensitizations,Immunological Stimulations,Sensitizations, Immunological,Stimulation, Immunological,Stimulations, Immunological,Variolations
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D003479 Curriculum A course of study offered by an educational institution. Curricula,Short-Term Courses,Course, Short-Term,Courses, Short-Term,Short Term Courses,Short-Term Course
D004512 Education, Pharmacy Formal instruction, learning, or training in the preparation, dispensing, and proper utilization of drugs in the field of medicine. Pharmacy Education,Education, Pharmaceutic,Education, Pharmaceutical,Pharmaceutic Education,Pharmaceutical Education
D006266 Health Education Education that increases the awareness and favorably influences the attitudes and knowledge relating to the improvement of health on a personal or community basis. Community Health Education,Education, Health,Education, Community Health,Health Education, Community
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012574 Schools Educational institutions. Primary Schools,Schools, Secondary,Secondary Schools,Primary School,School,School, Primary,School, Secondary,Schools, Primary,Secondary School
D012580 Schools, Pharmacy Educational institutions for individuals specializing in the field of pharmacy. Pharmacy Schools,Pharmacy School,School, Pharmacy
D013339 Students, Pharmacy Individuals enrolled in a school of pharmacy or a formal educational program leading to a degree in pharmacy. Pharmacy Student,Pharmacy Students,Student, Pharmacy
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.

Related Publications

William Allan Prescott, and Christian Bernhardi
September 2013, American journal of pharmaceutical education,
William Allan Prescott, and Christian Bernhardi
August 2007, American journal of pharmaceutical education,
William Allan Prescott, and Christian Bernhardi
April 2014, American journal of pharmaceutical education,
William Allan Prescott, and Christian Bernhardi
August 2018, The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy,
William Allan Prescott, and Christian Bernhardi
July 2022, Currents in pharmacy teaching & learning,
William Allan Prescott, and Christian Bernhardi
June 2008, American journal of pharmaceutical education,
William Allan Prescott, and Christian Bernhardi
June 2012, American journal of pharmaceutical education,
William Allan Prescott, and Christian Bernhardi
September 2019, American journal of pharmaceutical education,
William Allan Prescott, and Christian Bernhardi
March 2023, Currents in pharmacy teaching & learning,
William Allan Prescott, and Christian Bernhardi
February 2016, American journal of pharmaceutical education,
Copied contents to your clipboard!