A Survey of Primary Care Providers’ Strategies to Affect Influenza Vaccination Rates

Influenza is a vaccine preventable disease that affects millions of Americans and causes thousands of deaths and billions in healthcare costs. Annual influenza vaccination is regarded by researchers and healthcare governing bodies as the most effective way to prevent contracting the flu. A large body of research exists supporting primary care providers as influential in regard to patients’ healthcare decision making. However, if strategies are consistently being implemented to affect influenza vaccination rates remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify strategies being implemented to affect influenza vaccination rates by asking two questions: 1. Do primary care providers recommend influenza vaccinations to every patient, and 2. Are primary care providers implementing strategies to affect influenza vaccination rates? A total of 93 voluntary, anonymous surveys were collected from primary care providers in Mississippi and analyzed utilizing descriptive statistics with frequency distribution. The survey reflected that 100% of participants offered the influenza vaccination to all eligible patients. Of the providers using strategies to affect influenza vaccination rates, 96.8% reported advertising as the prevalent strategy. Following advertising, the next most predominant strategy utilized was a visible notation of the patient\u27s current vaccination status on the chart or electronic health record (EHR). Notably, the study found that one third of existing primary care patients were not notified of the need for the influenza vaccination. The findings have implications for both primary care providers and administration in that improvement in systematic implementation of strategies to affect influenza vaccination rates are needed and more research is needed to identify barriers to patient willingness to receive the influenza vaccination