title: Feasibility of telemonitoring for active surveillance of influenza vaccine safety in the primary care setting in The Netherlands.
abstract: We examined the feasibility of a commercial home telemonitoring system for monitoring adverse events related to vaccination and influenza-like illness (ILI) signs and outcomes in the primary care setting in The Netherlands. A prospective cohort of people eligible for influenza vaccination was monitored daily between mid-October 2007 and mid-March 2008. Adults from five primary care centres were invited to participate. A total of 245 people participated (response rate 75%). Their mean age was 61 years (SD = 15), 50% were female and 60% had a chronic disease. Most (73%) had no problems with installation of the system and 67% finished all sets of monitoring dialogues. The reported incidence of adverse events in the first week after vaccination was 8-38%. The reported incidence rates of ILI symptoms varied and were higher than reference data. A total of 39% of individuals consulted their general practitioner, 7% the hospital emergency department, 6% were hospitalized and 27% used medication. Of those in paid work, one-third reported absence of work due to ILI. Home telemonitoring appears to be feasible for monitoring vaccine adverse events and ILI symptoms and outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands. B.Vrijhoef@ZW.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: Hubertus J M
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Vrijhoef
authors.forename: Joyce J M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines