Improving Influenza Vaccination Coverage: A Quality Improvement Project in Internal Medicine Clinic

Abstract

Background: The influenza vaccine coverage is low despite its proven benefit in improving morbidity and mortality, and costs associated with influenza infection. Primary care clinics provide a convenient and effective space to conduct a discussion related to influenza vaccine. A decrease in the influenza vaccine coverage was noticed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic along with a decrease in patient visits.

Methods: The quality improvement study was done at a primary care clinic in an underserved area over a 12-week period. Providers were given education in a group setting at the beginning of every alternate week, i.e., 6 weeks duration, and the remaining 6 weeks served as a comparison group. Further, a brief education was given at the beginning of the week, and a simple questionnaire was given before each patient visit. The providers were advised to record their discussion in the electronic medical records.

Results: The intervention led to increased discussion regarding the influenza vaccine between the providers and the patients (χ² (1, N = 726) = 25.76, P < 0.00001 without Yates correction), but no statistically significant difference was noticed in the proportion of patients accepting the vaccine (χ² (1, N = 187) = 1.714, P = 0.1905 without Yates correction).

Conclusion: Providers were least likely to offer the vaccine on visits scheduled for a pre-operative evaluation or an acute complain. A simple intervention like providing education to healthcare staff can significantly improve discussions regarding vaccines, and has the potential to improve coverage.

Clin Infect Immun. 2024;9(1):11-15
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cii176