Jack J Huang1, Maria Francesconi2, Madeline H Cooper3, Allyson Covello4, Michelle Guo1, Soheyla D Gharib2,5. 1. a University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA. 2. b Harvard University Health Services , Cambridge , Massachusetts , USA. 3. c Stanford University School of Medicine , Stanford , California , USA. 4. d Harvard University , Cambridge , Massachusetts , USA. 5. e Harvard Medical School , Cambridge , Massachusetts , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a campus community health worker program (HealthPALs) on student influenza vaccination. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate students at a northeastern US university (enrollment 6650), influenza seasons 2011-2012 through 2015-2016. METHODS: Study design: Difference-in-differences analysis of student vaccination at campus dormitory influenza clinics during intervention vs. baseline. INTERVENTION: In the first intervention year, HealthPALs conducted in-person peer outreach at several campus dormitory flu clinics. Subsequent years, HealthPALs conducted an enhanced intervention, with the addition of a personalized, dormitory-specific social media campaign appealing to students' community identity. RESULTS: The initial intervention increased vaccinations by 66% (IRR = 1.66, 95%CI 1.39-1.97) at intervention clinics relative to control. The enhanced intervention increased vaccinations by 85% (IRR = 1.85, 95%CI 1.75-1.96). CONCLUSION: Community health workers can be a highly effective, low-cost strategy for increasing influenza vaccination among college students. This model could also be used to address other campus health challenges where student engagement is key.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a campus community health worker program (HealthPALs) on student influenza vaccination. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate students at a northeastern US university (enrollment 6650), influenza seasons 2011-2012 through 2015-2016. METHODS: Study design: Difference-in-differences analysis of student vaccination at campus dormitory influenza clinics during intervention vs. baseline. INTERVENTION: In the first intervention year, HealthPALs conducted in-person peer outreach at several campus dormitory flu clinics. Subsequent years, HealthPALs conducted an enhanced intervention, with the addition of a personalized, dormitory-specific social media campaign appealing to students' community identity. RESULTS: The initial intervention increased vaccinations by 66% (IRR = 1.66, 95%CI 1.39-1.97) at intervention clinics relative to control. The enhanced intervention increased vaccinations by 85% (IRR = 1.85, 95%CI 1.75-1.96). CONCLUSION: Community health workers can be a highly effective, low-cost strategy for increasing influenza vaccination among college students. This model could also be used to address other campus health challenges where student engagement is key.
Entities:
Keywords:
Community health workers; health education; immunizations; seasonal influenza
Authors: Eric Richardson; Kathleen A Ryan; Robert M Lawrence; Christopher A Harle; Shivani M Desai; Melvin D Livingston; Amit Rawal; Stephanie A S Staras Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2021-06-02 Impact factor: 4.526
Authors: Ileana Maria Ponce-Gonzalez; Kathleen Perez; Allen D Cheadle; Morgan Jade; Barry Iverson; Michael Leo Parchman Journal: J Prim Care Community Health Date: 2021 Jan-Dec