title: Influenza vaccination and its impact on hospitalization events in nursing homes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine trends of influenza vaccination in nursing homes before and after public reporting (objective-1), and to assess the effect of influenza vaccinations on hospitalization events (objective-2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nursing Home Compare (NHC) database was used to obtain influenza vaccination rates during the 2005-2006, 2006-2007, and 2007-2008 flu seasons (objective-1). The 2005-2007 Minimum Data Set for New York State (NYS) was obtained and linked with the NHC data (objective-2).
  
  
  METHODS
  All nursing homes in the United States were included in the analysis of objective-1. All eligible NYS nursing homes and their residents, during 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 flu seasons, were included in the analysis of objective-2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nursing home was the unit of analysis. Influenza vaccination rates in nursing homes over the 3 flu seasons were compared nationwide. A first-differenced model was fit to examine the relationship between facility vaccination rates and hospitalization rates in NYS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an increase in influenza vaccination rates in nursing homes over the 3 flu seasons, but this increase was no greater than that among community-dwelling elderly. In NYS facilities with high baseline vaccination rates, the effect of vaccination on reducing hospitalizations was small. In NYS facilities with a low baseline rate, a 10.0% increase in vaccination rate for long-term care residents was correlated with a 6.2% decline in baseline hospitalization rates. However, a 10.0% increase in vaccination rate for short-term care residents was correlated with a 4.6% increase in baseline hospitalization rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no clear evidence that public reporting improves vaccination rates in nursing homes. The effects of vaccination on hospitalization events in nursing homes are mixed.
authors: Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. Shubing_Cai@brown.edu
authors: Shubing
authors: S
authors: Cai
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Temkin-Greener
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines