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. 2022 Apr:10:100135.
doi: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2021.100135. Epub 2021 Dec 28.

Pharmacists-physicians collaborative intervention to reduce vaccine hesitancy and resistance: A randomized controlled trial

Derar H Abdel-Qader  1 , Wail Hayajneh  2 , Abdullah Albassam  3 , Nathir M Obeidat  4 , Adel M Belbeisi  5 , Nadia Al Mazrouei  6 , Ala'a F Al-Shaikh  5 , Khaldoon E Nusair  7 , Ahmad Z Al Meslamani  8 , Asma A El-Shara  9 , Husam El Sharu  10 , Samah Bahy Mohammed Ebaed  11 , Osama Mohamed Ibrahim  12   6
Affiliations

Pharmacists-physicians collaborative intervention to reduce vaccine hesitancy and resistance: A randomized controlled trial

Derar H Abdel-Qader et al. Vaccine X. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: Given their negative influence on community health, vaccine hesitancy and resistance are emerging challenges that require healthcare intervention. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of physician-pharmacist collaborative health coaching on rates of hesitancy and resistance for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Methods: After an initial assessment of rates of hesitancy and resistance for a COVID-19 vaccine was conducted, hesitant and resistant participants were approached, recruited, and randomized into an active and control group. Pharmacists-physicians collaborative coaching intervention was delivered to active group subjects over two months through Facebook live sessions. The outcome measures were assessed in both groups before coaching, directly after coaching, and a month after coaching.

Results: The proportions of hesitancy and resistance for a COVID-19 vaccine among subjects in the active group were significantly reduced from 64.3% and 35.7% before coaching to 20.1% and 7.8% directly after coaching, respectively. These proportions were further reduced to 11.1% and 3.3% a month after coaching, respectively. Furthermore, the mean scores for knowledge on, and attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine were significantly increased from 4.6 ± 1.8 and 4.1 ± 1.7 before coaching to 7.5 ± 3.1 and 8.9 ± 3.8 directly after coaching, respectively. However, the change in mean score of beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines among active group subjects was not significant.

Conclusion: High rates of hesitancy and resistance for a COVID-19 vaccine were found in Jordan. These rates can be significantly reduced through online pharmacists-physicians collaborative coaching, which can also improve knowledge of and attitude towards COVID-19 vaccines.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; Health coaching; SARS-Cov-2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Vaccine hesitancy; χ2, chi-square.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The assessment, allocation, assessment, and analysis steps of the study.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Findings of initial screening.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Findings presented show the change in sources of information about COVID-19 vaccine across participants in the active group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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