Impact of an algorithm-guided nurse intervention on the use of immunization opportunities
C. Christy, K. M. McConnochie, N. Zernik and S. Brzoza
Department of Pediatrics, Rochester General Hospital, NY, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if a nurse intervention guided by an immunization
algorithm was associated with an increased use of immunization
opportunities at non-well-child care visits. DESIGN: A controlled
intervention trial of an algorithm-guided nurse intervention during a
5-month period. The use of immunization opportunities at an intervention
site was compared with the use at this site during the previous year (the
retrospective control group) and with that at a similar pediatric practice
during the same period (the concurrent control group). STUDY POPULATION:
Children aged 2 to 60 months at 2 hospital-based pediatric practices that
serve children of families with low to moderate incomes in Rochester, NY.
RESULTS: During the study periods, 2814 study children in the 3 groups made
5464 visits for non-well-child care. The use of immunization opportunities
for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, live oral poliovirus vaccine, and
measles-mumps-rubella vaccine at intervention visits was significantly
better than at the visits of the retrospective or concurrent control groups
(range of odds ratios, 1.9-2.5). CONCLUSIONS: An algorithm-guided nurse
intervention improved the use of immunization opportunities at
non-well-child care visits.
