Increasing the Rate of Influenza Vaccination in Children With Asthma Using a Clinic Staff and Provider Educational Intervention

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this quality improvement study was to evaluate how the use of an educational intervention aimed at staff and providers at a pediatric primary care clinic compared with no intervention would affect influenza vaccination rates over a 3-month period during the prime vaccination season. Methods. A retrospective-descriptive design was used. Billing records were evaluated for an asthma-related diagnosis and for receipt of an influenza vaccine from September 10 through December 10 in 2011 and 2012. Results. In 2011, 1814 pediatric patients visited the clinic, and 6% (n = 109) had a billable asthma-related diagnosis. In 2012, 1723 pediatric patients visited the clinic, with 5% (n = 92) with asthma. In 2011, 69% (n = 75) of children with asthma received an influenza vaccine, and 56 (75%) received the vaccine at a shot-only flu clinic. In 2012, 70% (n = 64) of children with asthma were vaccinated, 41 (64%) at a shot-only flu clinic. In 2011, 43 (44%) children with asthma presented to the clinic for an illness-related visit, and 9 (21%) were vaccinated. In 2012, 48 (52%) children with asthma presented for an illness-related visit, and 20 (42%) received a vaccine. The change in proportion of children with asthma vaccinated at an illness-related visit did not reach statistical significance (P = .058). In 2011, 50% (n = 912) of the total clinic population received an influenza vaccine. In 2012, 57% (n = 981) received an influenza vaccine. The difference in the proportion of the total clinic population vaccinated was found to be statistically significant (P < .001). Conclusions. Despite staff education, there were no statistically significant differences in influenza vaccination rates in children with asthma. Perhaps a multi-interventional approach would be more effective in increasing the vaccination rates in this high-risk group.