Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109463

Nicholas A. Daniels, MD, MPH¹, Teresa C. Juarbe, RN, PhD², Gina T. Moreno-John, MD, MPH¹, Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, MD³, and Ginny Gildengorin, PhD⁴. (1) Department of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 1701 Divisadero Street, Suite 500, Box 1732, San Francisco, CA 94115, 415-353-7922, ndaniels@medicine.ucsf.edu, (2) Department of Family Health Care Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, 2 Koret Way Room 411-Y, San Francisco, CA 94143-0606, (3) Department of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 335, San Francisco, CA 94143, (4) Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations, University of California San Francisco, Box 0856, 3333 California Street, Suite 335, San Francisco, CA 94143

BACKGROUND: African-American and Latino elderly continue to report lower rates of immunizations. Interventions using faith-based organizations (FBO) have not been well evaluated. We examined the effectiveness of an adult vaccination program in FBO in minority communities.

METHODS: During December 2003-January 2004, seven churches were randomized to an experimental intervention with provision of onsite adult vaccinations compared to no provision of vaccines in comparison FBOs. Participants were eligible if previously unvaccinated with pneumococcal vaccine and not regularly receiving flu shots, age 65 or older or with a clinical indication for vaccination. Baseline and follow-up surveys were conducted. The primary outcome assessed was influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates.

RESULTS: The study population (N=85) was 45% Latino, 42% African-American, 7% White, and 6% Asian. Of those eligible to receive influenza vaccination in the experimental group, 42 of 61 (69%) utilized the influenza vaccine compared to 3 of 24 (13%) in the control group (p<0.001). Of those eligible to receive the pneumococcal vaccination, 24 of 39 (62%) in the experimental group utilized the pneumococcal vaccine compared to none of the 20 in the control group (p<0.001). Participants in the experimental group were more likely to receive influenza vaccinations with OR= 2.0 (1.4-2.8;95%CI) and pneumococcal vaccination with OR=2.3 (1.6-3.4;95%CI). Ninety percent of participants reported that they would be willing participate in FBOs education and promotion programs.

CONCLUSION: This onsite adult vaccination program based in FBO appears to be effective in increasing vaccination rates and may be a promising strategy for decreasing disparities in vaccination rates.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop a public health intervention program in faith-based organizations.
• Articulate how to best partner with faith-based organizations around health promotion projects.

Keywords: Immunizations, Faith Community

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation