The effect of different definitions of a patient on immunization assessment.
OBJECTIVE
In this report, the authors compare immunization assessment using 2 definitions of a patient.


METHODS
Two Clinical Assessment Software Application (CASA) assessments were performed. The first sampled 200 two-year-olds seen at least once since birth. The second sampled 200 two-year-olds seen in the previous year. Children with incomplete immunizations in the first sample were contacted.


RESULTS
In the second sample, 72% of children had complete immunizations, compared with 46% in the first sample. In the first sample, 78% of children with incomplete immunizations had not been seen during the past year. Of 134 children in the first sample seen in the past year or successfully contacted, 75% had complete immunizations.


CONCLUSIONS
The CASA assessment's definition of a patient underestimates immunization rates.
O'Connor
M E
ME
Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. moconnor@dhha.org
Maddocks
B
B
Modie
C
C
Pierce
H
H
D002675:Child, Preschool; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009820:Ohio; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012984:Software; D014600:Utilization Review