Cj. Stille et al., A simple provider-based educational intervention to boost infant immunization rates: A controlled trial, CLIN PEDIAT, 40(7), 2001, pp. 365-373
We sought to determine if a simple educational intervention initiated at th
e first well-child care visit, with reinforcement at subsequent visits, cal
l improve inner-city infant immunization rates. We conducted a controlled t
rial involving 315 newborn infants and their primary caregivers in 3 inner-
city primary care centers. Child health care providers gave caregivers in t
he intervention group an interactive graphic card with verbal reinforcement
. At later visits, stickers were applied to the card when immunizations wer
e given. Routine information was given to controls. After the trial, age-ap
propriate immunization rates at 7 months were 58% in each group. Interventi
on infants had 50% fewer missed opportunities to immunize (p=0.01) but canc
elled 77% more appointments (p=0.04) than controls. We conclude that a brie
f educational intervention at the first well-child care visit did not boost
7-month immunization rates, although it was associated with fewer missed o
pportunities to immunize.