Patients are highly satisfied with pharmacy-based travel health services

Pharmacists with training in travel medicine have successfully provided a wide range of general and specialized travel health services, according to a recent systematic review. The review included studies from the United States, Canada and United Kingdom (published in English) that reported on dedicated travel health services provided by pharmacists, along with outcomes and/or an evaluation of the travel health services. The types of travel health services included pharmacist-run travel medicine clinics or travel health services provided by pharmacists at community pharmacies or other primary care settings. The systematic review revealed that pharmacists provide a wide range of general and specialized travel health services including pretravel risk assessment based on travel itinerary; routine and travel-related vaccination services (i.e., prescribing, recommendations, administration of vaccines); prescribing or recommending medications for travel-related illnesses (e.g., malaria, traveller’s diarrhea, altitude illness); other travel health advice (preventing insect bites, sun protection, preventing food/water-borne diseases); and counselling to help travellers prepare for managing health issues during travel. Pharmacists providing travel medicine services generally had additional training in the field of travel medicine. Most held a Certificate in Travel Health from the International Society of Travel Medicine. Pharmacists provided travel medicines services either autonomously, with the pharmacist authorized to independently prescribe travel medications and vaccines and administer injections, or under a pharmacist–physician collaborative practice protocol or agreement. Overall, 94%–100% of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied with pharmacist-managed travel health services. Most studies included in the review also reported a good acceptance rate of pharmacist recommendations for vaccines and travel-related mediations, with an overall acceptance rate of ≥ 75% (range: 48%–94.2%). High rates of acceptance of other nonpharmacological advice were noted. Patients also stated that community pharmacies were a convenient location for travel health and vaccination services. Several factors contributed to the success of pharmacy-based travel services: additional training and qualifications in travel medicine; development of marketing and promotion strategies; authority to provide travel-related medicines and vaccines; strong collaboration between the travel clinic pharmacist and the supervising physician; adequate staff and ability to schedule appointments; and a private consultation room. The authors conclude that pharmacists with training in travel medicine have successfully provided a wide range of general and specialized travel health services. Most travellers were highly satisfied with the pharmacy-based travel health services and usually accepted pharmacists’ recommendations. Reference 1. Bhuvan KC, Alrasheedy AA, Leggat PA, et al. Types and outcomes of pharmacist-managed travel health services: a systematic review. Travel Med Infect Dis 2023;51:102494. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S147789392200240X (accessed December 28, 2022).

Patients are highly satisfied with pharmacy-based travel health services

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics