title: Increasing inner-city adult influenza vaccination rates: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In a population of seniors served by urban primary care centers, we evaluated the effect of the practice-based intervention on influenza immunization rates and disparities in vaccination rates by race/ethnicity and insurance status.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial during 2003-2004 tested patient tracking/recall/outreach and provider prompts on improving influenza immunization rates. Patients aged > or = 65 years in six large inner-city primary care practices were randomly allocated to study or control group. Influenza immunization coverage was measured prior to enrollment and on the end date.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At study end, immunization rates were greater for the intervention group than for the control group (64% vs. 22%, p < 0.0001). When controlling for other factors, the intervention group was more than six times as likely to receive influenza vaccine. The intervention was effective across gender, race/ ethnicity, age, and insurance subgroups. Among the intervention group, 3.5% of African Americans and 3.2% of white people refused influenza immunization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient tracking/recall/outreach and provider prompts were intensive but successful approaches to increasing seasonal influenza immunization rates among this group of inner-city seniors.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, The School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA. sghumiston@cmh.edu
authors.forename: Sharon G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Humiston
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eberly
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arvelo
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stankaitis
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Szilagyi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D017010:Reminder Systems; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines