Promoting Influenza Vaccination to Restaurant Employees

Abstract

Purpose.

To evaluate an evidence-based workplace approach to increasing adult influenza vaccination levels applied in the restaurant setting

Design.

We implemented an intervention and conducted a pre/post analysis to determine effect on vaccination.

Setting.

Eleven Seattle-area restaurants.

Subjects.

Restaurants with 25+ employees speaking English or Spanish and over 18 years.

Intervention.

Restaurants received influenza vaccination promotion materials, assistance arranging on-site vaccination events, and free influenza vaccinations for employees.

Measures.

Pre/post employee surveys of vaccination status with direct observation and employer interviews to evaluate implementation.

Analysis.

We conducted descriptive analysis of employee survey data and performed qualitative analysis of implementation data. To assess intervention effect, we used a mixed-effects logistic regression model with a restaurant-specific random effect.

Results.

Vaccination levels increased from 26% to 46% (adjusted odds ratio 2.33, 95% confidence interval 1.69, 3.22), with 428 employees surveyed preintervention, 305 surveyed postintervention, and response rates of 73% and 55%, respectively. The intervention was effective across subgroups, but there were restaurant-level differences.

Conclusion.

An access-based workplace intervention can increase influenza vaccination levels in restaurant employees, but restaurant-level factors may influence success.