A simple provider-based educational intervention to boost infant immunization rates: A controlled trial

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.