Active Choice Intervention Tied to Increase in Flu Shot Rates

TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An active choice intervention is associated with an increase in influenza vaccination rates, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in JAMA Network Open.

Rebecca H. Kim, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues conducted a retrospective, quality improvement study in 11 primary care practices; the sample included 96,291 patients. Three primary care practices implemented an active choice intervention in the electronic health record that prompted medical assistants to ask patients about influenza vaccination during check-in and template vaccination orders for clinicians to review during the visit.

The researchers found that vaccination rates were about 44 percent from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., decreased to 41.2 percent by 11 a.m. and 38.3 percent at noon, then increased to 40.2 percent at 1 p.m., and decreased to 34.3 and 32.0 percent at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, among all practices. Vaccination rates were 46.9, 47.2, and 45.6 percent, respectively, at control practices, and 49.7, 52.2, and 59.3 percent, respectively, at intervention practices, for three years. Compared with control practices over time, the active choice intervention correlated with a significant 9.5 percent increase in vaccination rates, in adjusted analyses. Similar increases were seen in vaccination rates across times of the day.

“Influenza vaccination rates significantly declined as the clinic day progressed,” the authors write. “The active choice intervention was associated with a significant increase in influenza vaccination rates that were similar in magnitude throughout the day.”

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the health technology industry.

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