Healthcare providers saw an increase in vaccine uptake from older adults after they were provided with a decision making tool that provided vaccine information, a study has revealed.
Currently, only 15 per cent of Americans ages 50 and older and 25 per cent of Americans ages 65 and older are up to date on all recommended vaccines, including flu, RSV, tetanus and pneumococcal disease.
In the study, six primary care clinics across America piloted a new approach to boosting vaccination rates. This included providing patients a decision-making tool ahead of their clinic visit that listed vaccination recommendations and encouraged the patients to share concerns about getting vaccinated.
After using the tool, 79 per cent of patients said they were willing to get vaccinated, compared with 68 per cent beforehand.
The approach also featured collaborative learning sessions where patients and healthcare providers discussed patients’ concerns and barriers to getting vaccinated. A total of 63 per cent of patients in the study said that a strong recommendation from their healthcare provider would motivate them to get vaccinated.
“The vaccination schedule for older adults, like for paediatric patients, can be confusing – to know what is needed and when,” said Laurie Archbald-Pannone, a UVA Health geriatrician and lead author of the study.
“Patients in the study reported that a clear recommendation from their healthcare provider was most impactful in getting them vaccinated.”
Of the 116 patients surveyed, 60 per cent said they had not regularly discussed barriers to vaccination with their healthcare provider before participating in the study.
The most cited barriers included knowing which vaccines were needed; paying for vaccinations; keeping track of vaccines and when they were due; concerns about side effects; and getting transportation to receive a vaccine.
After using the shared decision-making tool, 79 per cent of patients in the study said they discussed their vaccination concerns more or much more than during previous visits.
“Clear information and good discussions about vaccines between patients and their care providers is critical to getting older adults vaccinated,” Archbald-Pannone said.
