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Health care incentives in immunisation
H Achat1, P McIntyre, M Burgess
1National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases, New Children's Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales. helena@phu.wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
|July 1, 1999
Summary
Financial incentives, like rewards for parents and providers, can significantly boost childhood immunisation rates. Effective programs require collaboration and tailoring to specific populations for optimal results.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Australia implemented a nationwide immunisation incentive scheme.
- This program offers financial rewards to providers and parents.
- The scheme aims to encourage childhood immunisations.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review the effectiveness of incentives in increasing immunisation uptake.
- Identify challenges in designing childhood immunisation incentive programs.
- Examine findings within the context of Australia's national scheme.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a Medline search for studies on 'immunization and financial incentive' and 'immunization and incentive' (1966-1998).
- Included six articles from the initial search and three additional studies from references and reviews.
- Analyzed eight different incentive types, including non-financial (food vouchers) and monetary rewards.
Main Results:
- Nine studies (British, American, Nicaraguan) were included in the review.
- Incentive recipients were up to three times more likely to be immunised.
- Overall immunisation rates increased by up to 17% in groups receiving incentives.
Conclusions:
- Effective incentive programs necessitate collaboration among stakeholders.
- Programs must be tailored to the specific characteristics of the target population.
- Both monetary and non-monetary incentives can improve childhood immunisation uptake, with ongoing evaluation crucial for resource allocation.