Introduction Missed outpatient appointments are a common problem for academic residency clinics, and reducing their rate improves office efficiency, income, and resident education. Identifying specific reasons why some patients miss outpatient appointments may provide insight into developing targeted approaches to reducing their rates. This study sought to find reasons associated with patients’ missed appointments at two family medicine residency clinics. Methods The study utilized a qualitative research design involving patients at two urban, university-affiliated family medicine residency outpatient clinics. Twenty-five randomly selected patients who were dismissed from the clinics for missing three or more scheduled appointments during a five-year span (July 2012 to July 2017) were interviewed over the phone about reasons they did not keep their scheduled clinic appointments. The authors, individually and as a group, used an immersion-crystalization approach to analyze the content of the interviews. Results Responses from 25 participants (21 females and four males) are presented. Fifty-two percent of patients were Caucasian, 32% Black, 12% Hispanic, and 4% Asian. Five themes emerged from the data analysis as major reasons the patients missed their scheduled outpatient appointments: forgetfulness, transportation issues, personal health issues, family and employer obligations, and other issues, such as anticipated long clinic wait times, bad weather, and financial problems. Conclusions The findings showed there are several logistical, situational, and clinical reasons for patients’ missed scheduled outpatient appointments.

Introduction. In the past few decades, patients expressing the idea that vaccines are unsafe or unneeded have been experienced increasingly by physicians and other healthcare providers. Discussions with patients regarding their reasons for vaccine refusals are important, as it may provide information that can be utilized in an intervention to increase vaccination rates and combat the spread of diseases that are making a resurgence in the United States. The main objective of this study was to explore the perceptions of family physicians as to why parents in Kansas may be vaccine hesitant. Methods. An electronic survey was distributed to family physicians in the State of Kansas via the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Family Medicine Research and Data Information Office (FM RADIO). Several aspects of physician perceptions regarding patients’ vaccine hesitancy were measured in this study, including vaccines that are most often refused, reasons for refusing vaccinations, as well as what responses physicians employ when presented with vaccine concerns. Results. The majority of physicians surveyed have experienced vaccine hesitancy or refusal in their practice, and the human papillomavirus (HPV) and flu vaccines were reported to be the primary vaccines refused for children. In addition, physicians reported frequently employing various practices in response to vaccine refusals, including requiring parents to sign a form (40%) and dismissing families from their practice (1.5%). Physician perceptions on the reasons as to why parents/guardians refuse vaccinations also were measured, and the most common response was that parents possess a fear of long-term complications for their children as a result of vaccines (74%). Additionally, the three most commonly refused vaccines were HPV, influenza, and measles, mumps, and rubella. Conclusion. Physicians must not only deal with time constraints that vaccine hesitant discussions require, but also must try and implement discussions or interventions suited to the varying reasons why parents/guardians refuse vaccines to convince parents of their safety. The results suggested that vaccine refusals by parents/guardians seemed to be affecting Kansas family physicians’ clinics in more than one way. This study could be a useful tool to help physicians better understand why vaccine refusals occur and be able to combat unwarranted concerns about vaccines.

Introduction. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has spread rapidly throughout the world since its discovery in 2019. Three vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna/NIAID/BARDA, and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen) have been developed for use in the U.S. to aid in the fight against this virus, but have been scrutinized intensely for their efficacy and safety. It is important to understand and interpret the adverse events or reactions (AERs) associated with these vaccines in an objective and analytical manner. The goal of this descriptive study was to provide a resource outlining AERs associated with the three available vaccines in Kansas. Methods. Reports were obtained from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), representing AERs observed in Kansas from December 11th, 2020, to May 13th, 2021. All data were screened and coded, and descriptive statistics were used to describe AERs based on vaccine manufacturer, age, gender, and reported deaths. Results. Only 0.068% of COVID-19 vaccines doses given were associated with an AER. The most common AERs were fatigue/tiredness, tingling/itching, fever, hives, and muscle/joint paint. Only 0.002% of reports to VAERS were associated with a death. The majority of reports were by females (78.8%) and those aged 30 to 39 (20.6%). Conclusions. No reported AERs were unexpected compared to national data, and no VAERs report provided a causal relationship between vaccine administration and death. Vaccines are, and will continue to be, essential tools to fight COVID-19. Providing a resource of potential AERs could aid in individual decisions to receive a vaccine and may help in the control of COVID-19.

Introduction. There have been widespread concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines, particularly when it comes to pediatric populations, and it is important to provide information for parents and guardians to make informed decisions. This study sought to identify the adverse events and reactions (AERs) associated with the COVID-19 vaccines in Kansans aged 6 to 17. Methods. The US Department of Health and Human Services’ “Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System” (VAERS) database was searched from May 11th, 2021, to April 30th, 2022, for AERs related to COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents ages 6 to 17. Results were grouped by vaccine manufacturer and patient gender. Results. 159 individuals reported a total of 409 AERS, with an average of 2.6 per person (± 1.7; median = 2; range 1 to 10). Females (n = 95) reported 237 AERs, with an average of 2.5 each (±1.7; median = 2; range 1 to 8); while males (n = 64) reported 172 AERs, with an average of 2.7 each (±1.8; median = 2; range 1 to 8). The most common adverse event associated with Pfizer vaccination was syncope/fainting. Conclusions. COVID-19 vaccines have undergone intensive monitoring and safety regulations since the onset of the coronavirus. With over 591 million doses administered, there is compelling evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Informing the public about the potential AERs of the COVID-19 vaccines in children can help to alleviate vaccine hesitancy and strengthen vaccination confidence.