Improving influenza vaccine coverage in at-risk groups. Good intentions are not enough
Litt, J.C.; Lake, P.B.
Medical Journal of Australia 159(8): 542-547
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-729X PMID: 8412954 Document Number: 407138
Objectives: To raise awareness of the need for annual influenza vaccination in the elderly (those 65 years of age and older), and of the efficacy of organizational practice strategies (specifically at-risk registers and reminder systems) to improve influenza vaccine coverage. Data sources: Extensive search of the existing literature using MEDLINE and manual searching techniques. Recent key review articles on organizational strategies were also studied. Study selection: Primary source articles were included if they evaluated the efficacy of vaccination and the various strategies used to improve coverage. More attention was paid to randomized controlled trials, although other study designs were considered. A formal algorithm for estimating the effect of organizational strategies was not used; rather, appropriate studies which highlighted advantages and disadvantages were selected. Results: Current levels of vaccination for influenza are low. Negative patient attitudes and lack of an organized and systematic approach are the major barriers to improving vaccination rates. Vaccination coverage can be improved by 10%-30% by use of at-risk registers and reminder systems. Conclusions: Further research is required to determine the impact of both patient attitudes and reminder systems on influenza vaccination rates. A randomized controlled trial is currently underway to look at both these issues. Provider and patient reminder systems should be incorporated into general practice to improve the influenza vaccination rate.