Tailored interventions to increase influenza vaccination in neighborhood health centers serving the disadvantaged.
OBJECTIVE
We designed and evaluated interventions to increase adult immunizations within inner-city health centers.


METHODS
Interventions included reminders, standing orders, and walk-in "flu shot clinics." Patients were surveyed and records evaluated.


RESULTS
Records from 1 center showed that immunization rates increased from 24% to 30% (P <.001) for patients aged 50 to 64 years and from 45% to 53% for patients aged 65 years and older (P <.001). Self-reported vaccination rates did not increase. In logistic regression analyses, the strongest predictor of vaccination among patients aged 50 to 64 years was the belief that unvaccinated persons will contract influenza (odds ratio [OR] = 5.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.4, 12.0). Among patients aged 65 years and older, the strongest predictor of vaccination was the belief that friends/relatives thought that they should be vaccinated (OR = 9.7; 95% CI = 4.2, 22.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Tailored interventions can improve immunization rates at inner-city health centers.
Zimmerman
Richard K
RK
Department of Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. zimmer@pitt.edu
Nowalk
Mary Patricia
MP
Raymund
Mahlon
M
Tabbarah
Melissa
M
Hall
David G
DG
Wahrenberger
J Todd
JT
Wilson
Stephen A
SA
Ricci
Edmund M
EM
D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008875:Middle Aged; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017010:Reminder Systems; D014481:United States; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines