tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
. 2024 Apr;18(4):e13280.
doi: 10.1111/irv.13280. Evaluating Pilot Implementation of 'PenCS Flu Topbar' App in Medical Practices to Improve National Immunisation Program-Funded Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Central Queensland, Australia
Gulam Khandaker[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Gwenda Chapman[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Arifuzzaman Khan[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Mahmudul Hassan Al Imam[SUP] 1 7 [/SUP], Robert Menzies[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Nicolas Smoll[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Jacina Walker[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michael Kirk[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Kerrie Wiley[SUP] 11 12 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: The 'PenCS Flu Topbar' app was deployed in Central Queensland (CQ), Australia, medical practices through a pilot programme in March 2021.
Methods: We evaluated the app's user experience and examined whether the introduction of 'PenCS Flu Topbar' in medical practices could improve the coverage of NIP-funded influenza vaccinations. We conducted a mixed-method study including a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with key end-users and a quantitative analysis of influenza vaccine administrative data.
Results: 'PenCS Flu Topbar' app users reported positive experiences identifying patients eligible for NIP-funded seasonal influenza vaccination. A total of 3606 NIP-funded influenza vaccinations was administered in the eight intervention practices, 14% higher than the eight control practices. NIP-funded vaccination coverage within practices was significantly higher in the intervention practices (31.2%) than in the control practices (27.3%) (absolute difference: 3.9%; 95% CI: 2.9%-5.0%; p < 0.001). The coverage was substantially higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged more than 6 months, pregnant women and children aged 6 months to less than 5 years for the practices where the app was introduced when compared to control practices: incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2.4 (95% CI: 1.8-3.2), IRR 2.7 (95% CI: 1.8-4.2) and IRR 2.3 (1.8-2.9) times higher, respectively.
Conclusions: Our evaluation indicated that the 'PenCS Flu Topbar' app is useful for identifying the patients eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccination and is likely to increase NIP-funded influenza vaccine coverage in the eligible populations. Future impact evaluation including a greater number of practices and a wider geographical area is essential.
Keywords: application; clinical decision support system; health information technology; influenza; vaccination.
. 2024 Apr;18(4):e13280.
doi: 10.1111/irv.13280. Evaluating Pilot Implementation of 'PenCS Flu Topbar' App in Medical Practices to Improve National Immunisation Program-Funded Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Central Queensland, Australia
Gulam Khandaker[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Gwenda Chapman[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Arifuzzaman Khan[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Mahmudul Hassan Al Imam[SUP] 1 7 [/SUP], Robert Menzies[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Nicolas Smoll[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Jacina Walker[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michael Kirk[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Kerrie Wiley[SUP] 11 12 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 38623599
- DOI: 10.1111/irv.13280
Background: The 'PenCS Flu Topbar' app was deployed in Central Queensland (CQ), Australia, medical practices through a pilot programme in March 2021.
Methods: We evaluated the app's user experience and examined whether the introduction of 'PenCS Flu Topbar' in medical practices could improve the coverage of NIP-funded influenza vaccinations. We conducted a mixed-method study including a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with key end-users and a quantitative analysis of influenza vaccine administrative data.
Results: 'PenCS Flu Topbar' app users reported positive experiences identifying patients eligible for NIP-funded seasonal influenza vaccination. A total of 3606 NIP-funded influenza vaccinations was administered in the eight intervention practices, 14% higher than the eight control practices. NIP-funded vaccination coverage within practices was significantly higher in the intervention practices (31.2%) than in the control practices (27.3%) (absolute difference: 3.9%; 95% CI: 2.9%-5.0%; p < 0.001). The coverage was substantially higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged more than 6 months, pregnant women and children aged 6 months to less than 5 years for the practices where the app was introduced when compared to control practices: incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2.4 (95% CI: 1.8-3.2), IRR 2.7 (95% CI: 1.8-4.2) and IRR 2.3 (1.8-2.9) times higher, respectively.
Conclusions: Our evaluation indicated that the 'PenCS Flu Topbar' app is useful for identifying the patients eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccination and is likely to increase NIP-funded influenza vaccine coverage in the eligible populations. Future impact evaluation including a greater number of practices and a wider geographical area is essential.
Keywords: application; clinical decision support system; health information technology; influenza; vaccination.