Adherence to Expanded Influenza Immunization Recommendations among Primary Care Providers

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 160; no. 3; pp. 480 - 486.e1
• Main Authors: O’Leary, Sean T., MD, MPH, Crane, Lori A., PhD, MPH, Wortley, Pascale, MD, MPH, Daley, Matthew F., MD, Hurley, Laura P., MD, MPH, Dong, Fran, MS, Stokley, Shannon, MPH, Babbel, Christine I., MSPH, Seewald, Laura, BA, Gahm, Claire, BA, Dickinson, L. Miriam, PhD, Kempe, Allison, MD, MPH
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Maryland Heights, MO Elsevier Inc 01.03.2012; Mosby, Inc; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; children; Data Collection; e-mail; Family Practice; Female; General aspects; Guideline Adherence; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunization Schedule; Infant; Infectious diseases; influenza; Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Male; Medical sciences; medicine; pediatricians; Pediatrics; Prevention and actions; Primary Health Care; Professional Practice Location; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; relative risk; surveys; vaccination; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases; AAP; RR; American Academy of Family Physicians; Family medicine physician; VFC; Risk ratio; AAFP; ACIP; FM; Vaccines for Children Program; Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; American Academy of Pediatrics; Pediatrics; Immunization; Compliance; Health staff; Primary health care; Vaccination; Recommendation; Infection; Prevention; Immunoprophylaxis; Viral disease; Influenza; Expansion
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2011.09.010

Objective To assess practices regarding the expanded Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for influenza vaccination in children among US pediatricians and family medicine physicians (FMs) and strategies to promote vaccination. Study design We administered a survey between July and October 2009 to 416 pediatricians and 424 FMs from nationally representative networks. Results The response rate was 75% (79% pediatricians, 70% FMs). FMs were less likely than pediatricians to report adherence to ACIP recommendations (35% vs 65%; adjusted risk ratio [RR], 0.60; 95% CI, 0.50-0.72). Most physicians (89% pediatricians and 89% FMs) reported using posters or pamphlets to encourage influenza vaccination, and 57% pediatricians and 41% FMs reported offering after hours dedicated influenza vaccination clinics. Only 23% pediatricians and 14% FMs reported providing written, telephone, or e-mail reminders to all children. Having dedicated influenza vaccination clinics after hours or weekends was associated with routine vaccination of all children (adjusted RR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.15-1.57). Conclusion In the first year of the expanded ACIP recommendations to immunize all eligible children against influenza, two-thirds of pediatricians and one-half of FMs reported adherence, although less than one-quarter were actively engaging in reminder/recall efforts. Practices that adhered to the ACIP recommendations were more likely to put a substantial effort into promoting vaccination opportunities.