The Canadian Pharmacists Journal (CPJ) Best Paper Award is granted annually to the paper that most positively impacts pharmacy practice and leads to better patient care in the future. The 2023 CPJ Best Paper Award went to Waterloo Pharmacy researchers Dr. Sherilyn Houle, associate professor, Dr. Wasem Alsabbagh, associate professor and Dr. Nancy Waite, professor and associate director, who found a solution to assist the public and pharmacists in encouraging vaccination uptake in their study, Herpes zoster and human papillomavirus vaccination opportunities identified using electronic prompts at the time of scheduling influenza or COVID-19 vaccines.
“This award highlights the significance of integrating innovative technologies in enhancing the role of community pharmacists in public health activities. Improving vaccination coverage and prevention strategies will lead to bettering Canadians’ health,” Alsabbagh says.
There’s a demand for this type of research and this recognition further proves its value. Embracing technology and new approaches will strengthen the future of pharmacy.
The study evaluated the impact of an electronic questionnaire embedded into an appointment scheduling platform, MedEssist, to identify patients eligible for HPV or shingles vaccines, and their willingness to discuss these vaccines with their pharmacist during their seasonal vaccine appointments. Pharmacists were then prompted to facilitate further discussion in an efficient manner.
“It was great working with MedEssist, who develop tech solutions to solve community pharmacy challenges. Their on-the-ground presence combined with our research expertise made for a great partnership,” Waite says.
Patients who are unvaccinated against some conditions may not be aware of other vaccines they’re eligible for, or that such vaccines even exist. By providing patients a personalized assessment and delivering advice on eligible vaccines, pharmacists can optimize patient visits to improve immunization rates.
“This is one example of the type of research that falls within the vision of the Pharmacy Innovation in Immunization Research Collaborative at the School. We have a history of publishing in pharmacy practice research in relation to vaccination,” Houle says. “Our expertise in the area can be applied to many different research questions and healthcare needs.”
Using technology to reduce the workload on pharmacy staff gives pharmacists the space to spend time in the areas where they are most valuable, specifically patient discussions and decision making.
“This award validates our position as Canadian researchers who are at the forefront of improving pharmacy practice to enhance healthcare delivery,” Alsabbagh says.
Further research received ethics approval to investigate results from the consultations that were held because of the electronic questionnaire and to look at the effectiveness of those prompts to continue to better patient care.