title: A comparative analysis of vaccine administration in urban and non-urban skilled nursing facilities.
abstract: The U.S. population is aging at an unprecedented rate, resulting in an increased demand for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and long-term care. Residents of these facilities are at a high risk for pneumococcal disease or severe influenza-related illnesses and death. For these reasons, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services use influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates as a quality measure in the assessment of SNFs, as complications related to these infections increase morbidity and mortality rates.
  
  
  
  Disparities have been reported amongst vaccination with increased rates in urban areas as compared to their non-urban counterparts. Statistical analyses were performed to compare influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in urban and non-urban SNFs to determine variables that may influence vaccination status.
  
  
  
  Of the 15,639 nursing homes included in the study, 10,107 were in urban areas, while 5532 were considered non-urban. We found the percent of eligible and willing residents with up-to-date influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations increased with overall five-star ratings of SNFs. Somewhat paradoxically, although urban SNFs had higher mean overall five-star ratings, they showed lower rates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination compared to non-urban SNFs. Ordinary least squares regression analysis comparing overall ratings, type of ownership, and geographic location by region yielded statistically significant results in which the overall rating, ownership-type and certificate-type favored urban SNFs (p < 0.001).
  
  
  
  This is the first systematic and comparative analysis to use the Nursing Home Compare database to assess vaccine administration of urban and non-urban SNFs. The findings of this study may be used to encourage the development of programs to improve vaccination rates and the quality of care in these facilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Long Island University at Post, Brookville, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Long Island University at Post, Brookville, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dolar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Long Island University at Post, Brookville, NY, USA. azad.gucwa@liu.edu.
authors.forename: Azad L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gucwa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019036:Suburban Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines
keywords: Five-star quality ratings; Influenza vaccine; Non-urban; Pneumococcal vaccine; Skilled nursing facilities; Urban