Identifying strategies to increase influenza vaccination in GP practices: a positive deviance approach

Abstract

This is the first known qualitative study to identify strategies used by UK GP practices to deliver seasonal flu vaccination programmes. It is one of few studies using the robust and novel approach of positive deviance to inform health care recommendations. This approach has offered new and more nuanced insights into GP practice factors associated high flu vaccination uptake beyond those captured through large-scale survey research.

The development of a digital intervention to increase influenza vaccination amongst pregnant women

“…One weakness is the fact that other potentially important determinants of behaviour (beyond risk and efficacy appraisal) are not addressed by this intervention. The animation was only designed to change appraisals of risk, with no attempts made to change environmental factors, for example, GP surgeries vaccination strategies, accessible clinic times, 11 or influence from healthcare professionals. 42 This places the focus of the intervention firmly on changing risk and efficacy appraisals but as a consequence limits its potential efficacy.…”

“…Flu vaccination behaviour itself is relatively simple to execute (i.e. the process of being vaccinated requires little effort on the behalf of the recipient, and only one dose is required rather than repeated effort), and approaches of some GP surgeries (such as vaccinating opportunistically) make access to the vaccination easy and convenient 11 ). Furthermore, meta-analysis evidence suggests a relationship between intention and behaviour, showing that a medium-to-large increase in intention, leads to a small-to-medium increase in behaviour.…”

“…7 – 9 Other barriers to vaccination amongst pregnant women include fears around the safety of the flu vaccination, including perceived risks to themselves or their unborn baby, 2 , 7 a lack of recommendation from a GP or midwife, 2 , 9 , 10 and differing organisational strategies and interventions offered by healthcare providers. 11 , 12 …”

“…[7][8][9] Other barriers to vaccination amongst pregnant women include fears around the safety of the flu vaccination, including perceived risks to themselves or their unborn baby, 2,7 a lack of recommendation from a GP or midwife, 2,9,10 and differing organisational strategies and interventions offered by healthcare providers. 11,12 Risk appraisals are defined as 'people's beliefs about a potential harm'. 13 Health Psychology theories (such as the Health Belief Model, 14 Protection Motivation Theory, 15 and the Extended Parallel Processing Model 16 ) propose that protective behaviours can be increased through increasing individuals' beliefs about the risk of harm.…”

Influenza vaccination 2014–2015: Results of a survey conducted among general practitioners in Italy

“…More than two thirds vaccinated at suitable moments on patient contacts with the general practice service: this finding is in line with previous study conducted in the UK that demonstrated that GPs have the tendency to opportunistically vaccinate, as this is considered by GPs to be the most successful strategy to increase vaccination uptake, especially among hesitant patients. 25 …”