(1145) Identifying Patient Reported Barriers to the Administration of RSV Vaccine

Objectives:

Background: On June 21, 2023, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the RSV vaccine for anyone 60 years or older, based on shared clinical decision making. Healthcare providers must assess the risk of developing severe RSV illness; risk factors include: residence in a nursing home or long-term care facility, kidney or liver disorders, lung disease, diabetes mellitus, and other diseases that may lead to a compromised immune system.

Due to the inclusion of shared clinical decision making within the ACIP recommendations, it is important for healthcare providers to understand patient perspectives on the RSV vaccine in order to gauge interest and address barriers for vaccination. It is also important for providers to recognize common gaps in knowledge in order to provide targeted patient education.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to assess patient willingness to receive and perceived barriers to receiving the RSV vaccine. The secondary objective is to apply the Health Belief Model (HBM) to patient responses in order to predict behavior in patients deciding to receive the RSV vaccine.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey-based study design will be used to assess patient willingness and perceived barriers. Likert scale questions will be used. Example barriers include transportation, insurance coverage, availability of safety data, income level, and rurality. Participants will be identified through community pharmacies in the state of South Carolina. Eligible participants include those who speak and write in English and are aged 60 and older. The survey will be available electronically via a web link and QR code. Printed copies of the survey will be available by request. Surveys will be completed from October until December 2023. Data will be de-identified, aggregated, and analyzed utilizing the IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Associations between the Health Belief Model constructs and willingness will be assessed.

Results: In progress.

Conclusions: In progress. Understanding patient willingness and reported barriers to vaccine administration will be a valuable resource for providers engaged in shared clinical decision making conversations with patients regarding the RSV vaccine.