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Impact of automated telephone messaging on zoster vaccination rates in community pharmacies.

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.


DESIGN
Randomized controlled trial.


SETTING
16 grocery store chain community pharmacies in Georgia and Tennessee, between December 2006 and May 2007.


PATIENTS
Adults 60 years or older who filled at least one prescription at a participating study pharmacy.


INTERVENTION
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.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
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).


CONCLUSION
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.