The Impact of Clinical Pharmacist on the Intention of Hemodialysis Patients to Receive Pneumococcal Vaccination: Cross sectional study

Objective: There is limited data on the coverage of the pneumococcal vaccine among dialysis patients. The role of pharmacists in increasing vaccine acceptance has become increasingly evident. However, studies evaluating the role of pharmacists in the acceptance of pneumococcal vaccines among dialysis patients are rare. This study aimed to assess the impact of a clinical pharmacist on the pneumococcal vaccination rate by delivering education and information to hemodialysis patients in hospitals. Methods: The study was conducted between October 2023 and May 2024 at the dialysis center of a state hospital. Participants were surveyed about pneumococcal disease and its vaccine, and afterwards, a pharmacist distributed an educational booklet on pneumococcal disease and its vaccine to provide training. Three months after the training, the patients' attitudes towards the pneumococcal vaccine and their vaccination status were evaluated, and the barriers affecting vaccination were identified. Results: The study found a significant lack of knowledge and awareness regarding pneumococcal disease and its vaccine among hemodialysis patients. The pharmacist-led educational intervention improved the participants' awareness and attitudes towards the disease and its vaccine (p<0.001), resulting in an increase in the pneumococcal vaccination rate (n=44; 29.3%). The biggest barrier to vaccination was found to be 'concern about side effects' (84; 79.2%). When comparing the demographic data of patients who were vaccinated and those who were not after the education, there was no statistically significant difference in age (p=0.639), gender (p=0.355), and monthly household income (p=0.111), while a statistically significant difference was observed in the education levels of the patients (p=0.015). Conclusion: The pneumococcal vaccination rate in hemodialysis patients has increased significantly due to the education provided by a clinical pharmacist in hospital settings.