ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to assess the preliminary effectiveness and acceptability of an inter-professional e-consultation on vaccines. We used a quasi-experimental design to introduce an application in electronic health records that allowed primary health providers to launch e-consults to the hospital vaccines unit. A total of 135 e-consults were received during 10 months. E-consults were more frequently about subjects with chronic diseases (82.2%). Most of the e-consults were global (60.7%), that is, to revise a patient's complete vaccination schedule, whereas 39.3% were specific, that is, to request information regarding a concrete vaccine or serology, with hepatitis vaccines leading the ranking (42.9%). The e-consultation avoided hospital referral in 85.4% of the global e-consults and in 100% of the specific e-consults. Indicators of acceptability were all above nine points (10 points indicated the maximum). The best-rated aspect was the level of recommendation (9.7 ± 0.68 points). In summary, linking primary health-care providers with specialists in vaccines through an e-consultation tool is effective and well-accepted by users.
Subject(s)
Referral and Consultation , Vaccines , Humans , Electronic Health Records , SpecializationABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Influenza vaccination rates among adults over 65 years have not reached the minimum levels recommended by the health authorities in Asturias during previous vaccination campaigns. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of an influenza vaccination strategy and its effectiveness. METHODS: Strategy developed during the 2019-2020 influenza vaccination campaign in the Área Sanitaria VII in the Servicio de Salud of the Principado de Asturias. The target population were people over 65 years. The strategy consisted of training sessions for professionals and the general population, information dissemination through the media, overt recommendations for the vaccination of hospital personnel and social recognition of the professionals involved. The vaccination rates were described and a two-tailed hypothesis test was used to determine the differences in the vaccination percentages. RESULTS: The percentage of vaccination in the Área Sanitaria VII went from 56.29% in the 2018-2019 campaign to 65.82% in the 2019-2020 campaign (+9.53; p<0.001). During the same campaign, the percentage of vaccination in Asturias was 57,38%, that is, 8,44% less than in the intervened Área Sanitaria. CONCLUSIONS: The strategy proved effective in increasing the rates of influenza vaccination among adults over 65 years in the Área Sanitaria VII of the Principado de Asturias.
OBJETIVO: La vacunación de la gripe en población mayor de 65 años en Asturias no ha alcanzado el mínimo recomendado por las autoridades sanitarias españolas en las últimas campañas de vacunación. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en presentar las características de una estrategia de vacunación frente a la gripe y su efectividad. METODOS: Estrategia desarrollada en la campaña de vacunación 2019-2020, en el Área Sanitaria VII del Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias. Su población objeto fueron las personas mayores de 65 años. Incluyó sesiones formativas a profesionales y población, información a la población a través de medios de comunicación, recomendación activa de la vacunación en el ámbito hospitalario y reconocimiento social a los profesionales implicados. Se realizó la descripción de las tasas de vacunación y, para determinar las diferencias en los porcentajes de vacunación, se utilizó un contraste de hipótesis para proporciones de dos colas. RESULTADOS: El porcentaje de vacunación en el Área Sanitaria VII pasó de un 56,29% en la campaña 2018-2019 a un 65,82% en la 2019-2020 (+9,53; p<0,001). Esa misma campaña el porcentaje de vacunación en Asturias fue 57,38%, es decir un 8,44% menor que en Área Sanitaria intervenida. CONCLUSIONES: La estrategia ha mostrado ser efectiva para aumentar el porcentaje de vacunación frente a la gripe en población mayor de 65 años en el Área Sanitaria VII del Principado de Asturias.
