Sherri L LaVela1, Jennifer N Hill2, Bridget M Smith3, Charlesnika T Evans4, Barry Goldstein5, Richard Martinello6. 1. Department of Veterans Affairs, Spinal Cord Injury Quality Enhancement Research Initiative, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL; Center for Healthcare Studies, General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: Sherri.LaVela@va.gov. 2. Department of Veterans Affairs, Spinal Cord Injury Quality Enhancement Research Initiative, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL. 3. Department of Veterans Affairs, Spinal Cord Injury Quality Enhancement Research Initiative, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL; Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. 4. Department of Veterans Affairs, Spinal Cord Injury Quality Enhancement Research Initiative, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL; Center for Healthcare Studies, Department of Preventive Medicine Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. 5. Department of Veterans Affairs, Spinal Cord Injury Quality Enhancement Research Initiative, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL; VA Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Services, Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. 6. VA Office of Public Health, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Washington, DC; Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Health care worker (HCW) vaccination rates have been low for many years (approximately 50%). Our goal was to implement an influenza declination form program (DFP) to assess feasibility, participation, HCW vaccination, and costs. METHODS: This was a prospective interventional pilot study using mixed methods to evaluate the DFP implementation processes and outcomes. We conducted a formative evaluation and interviews; data were transcribed and coded into themes. Secondary outcomes included self-reported HCW influenza vaccine uptake (pre-/postsurvey) and program costs; data were evaluated using descriptive and bivariate analyses. RESULTS: The DFP was compatible with ongoing strategies and unit culture. Barriers included multiple hospital shifts and competing demands. Facilitators included complementary ongoing strategies and leadership engagement. HCW vaccination rates were higher post- versus preimplementation (77.4% vs 53.5%, P =.01). To implement the DFP at site 1, using a mobile flu cart, 100% of declination forms were completed in 42.5 staff hours over <2 months. At site 2, using a vaccination table on all staff meeting days, 49% of forms were completed in 26.5 staff hours over 4.5 months. Average cost of staff time was $2,093 per site. CONCLUSION: DFP implementation required limited resources and resulted in increased HCW influenza vaccine rates; this may have positive clinical implications for influenza infection control/prevention. Published by Elsevier Inc.
BACKGROUND: Health care worker (HCW) vaccination rates have been low for many years (approximately 50%). Our goal was to implement an influenza declination form program (DFP) to assess feasibility, participation, HCW vaccination, and costs. METHODS: This was a prospective interventional pilot study using mixed methods to evaluate the DFP implementation processes and outcomes. We conducted a formative evaluation and interviews; data were transcribed and coded into themes. Secondary outcomes included self-reported HCW influenza vaccine uptake (pre-/postsurvey) and program costs; data were evaluated using descriptive and bivariate analyses. RESULTS: The DFP was compatible with ongoing strategies and unit culture. Barriers included multiple hospital shifts and competing demands. Facilitators included complementary ongoing strategies and leadership engagement. HCW vaccination rates were higher post- versus preimplementation (77.4% vs 53.5%, P =.01). To implement the DFP at site 1, using a mobile flu cart, 100% of declination forms were completed in 42.5 staff hours over <2 months. At site 2, using a vaccination table on all staff meeting days, 49% of forms were completed in 26.5 staff hours over 4.5 months. Average cost of staff time was $2,093 per site. CONCLUSION: DFP implementation required limited resources and resulted in increased HCW influenza vaccine rates; this may have positive clinical implications for influenza infection control/prevention. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Entities:
Keywords:
Declination forms; Health care workers; Implementation science; Influenza vaccination