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The association between greater continuity of care and timely measles-mumps-rubella vaccination
D A Christakis1, L Mell, J A Wright
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle 98103-8652, USA. dachris@u.washington.edu
Objectives:
This study assessed whether greater continuity of care is associated with timely administration of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination.
Methods:
We studied 11,233 patients continuously enrolled in Group Health Cooperative (GHC) from birth to 15 months. We used a preestablished index to quantify continuity of care based on the number of primary care providers in relation to the number of clinic visits. MMR vaccination status at 15 months was assessed with automated immunization data systems at GHC.
Results:
In a logistic regression model, both medium continuity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08, 1.33) and high continuity (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.22, 1.52) were associated with increased likelihood of being immunized by 15 months compared with patients in the lowest tercile of continuity of care.
Conclusion:
Greater continuity of care is associated with more timely immunization.