In Healthy People 2000, the USDHHS set forth a goal of vaccinating 80% of the institutionalized elderly against pneumococcal disease by the year 2000. In 2000, despite educational efforts, financial reimbursement, and deadly outbreaks of pneumococcal disease, few are being vaccinated. Failure to meet this goal and the lack of detailed information about pneumococcal vaccination (PV) practices in nursing homes led to this examination. Nursing directors at a random sample of 291 nursing homes licensed in Pennsylvania (36%) were mailed a survey about their PV practices. One hundred seventy-six (60.5%) completed the survey, forty-eight (16.5%) indicated they would not participate and 67 (23%) did not respond to the survey or telephone reminders. PV practices were reported as follows: assess vaccination status upon admission (67%), routinely assess vaccination status (38%), target all residents for vaccination (68%), require written (63%) or verbal (20%) consent, obtain consent upon admission (54%) or just prior to vaccination (35%), use standing orders (33%), record vaccination on vaccination record (53%), medication record (30%) or on face sheet (10%), and maintain a record of vaccinated residents (43%). Only 64 (36%) were able to provide the number or percentage of residents vaccinated against pneumococcal disease. This study, by identifying areas for education interventions aimed at increasing PV among Pennsylvania’s institutionalized elderly, has the potential to reduce morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality from pneumococcal disease for the residents of Pennsylvania’s nursing homes and possibly for the 1.6 million residents of nursing homes nationwide.
Keywords: Prevention, Nursing Homes
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.