Influenza vaccination and its association with clinic use of evidence-based practices and individual patient characteristics, San Diego County, 2009.
BACKGROUND
In 2008, about 40% of the US population eligible for influenza vaccine was vaccinated, which was below Healthy People 2020 goals. Little emphasis has been put on late-season vaccination efforts by medical providers.


OBJECTIVE
Evaluate use of evidence-based practices (EBP) and their association with influenza vaccination for children younger than 5 years and adults aged 50 years and older.


METHODS
Patient surveys and medical clinic information were collected between January and April 2009. Influenza coverage rates and logistic regressions are used to measure associations.


METHODS
Nineteen medical clinics serving children, adults, or both in San Diego County participated.


METHODS
Parents of children aged 6 months to 5 years and adults aged 50 years and over seen by a primary care provider during January through March 2009.


RESULTS
Influence of clinic EBP use on child and adult influenza vaccination status.


METHODS
Patient-reported influenza vaccination and clinic coverage rates and clinics' use of EBP and patient demographic characteristics.


RESULTS
Coverage rates varied by clinic; 50% to 82% (children) and 48% to 85% (adults). Child clinics using the immunization registry, or those that were private practices or medical groups and adult clinics that used influenza vaccination clinics, provider prompts, or electronic medical records had higher coverage. Surveys from 831 children and 1038 adults documented influenza vaccination rates of 64% and 63% respectively. Receiving a reminder or having two or more visits during influenza season was positively associated with child and adult influenza vaccination. Child vaccination was associated with children younger than 2 years. Adult vaccination was associated adults aged 65 years or older, having a high-risk condition, or being female.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the low use of EBP, clinics have opportunities to implement EBP appropriate for their settings and patient populations. Along with other strategies, public health departments and medical groups should encourage medical providers to implement EBP to improve influenza vaccination rates.
Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego, California 92110, USA.
Kathryn
K
McAuliffe
K Michael
KM
Peddecord
Wendy
W
Wang
Kimberly
K
Ralston
Michelle
M
Deguire
Karen
K
Waters-Montijo
Mark H
MH
Sawyer
D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D003153:Community Health Services; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011320:Primary Health Care
D007252:Influenza Vaccines