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Paediatric vaccination practice in a division of general practice

I F Cook1, J Murtagh

  • 1Monash University, Victoria. drifcook@dingoblue.net.au

Australian Family Physician
|February 13, 2002
PubMed

Insights

General practitioners (GPs) in rural Australia show high compliance with recommended paediatric vaccination sites, but not with needle size and gauge. This study highlights the need for clearer guidelines on paediatric vaccination practices.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Research
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • The National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) recommends specific guidelines for paediatric vaccination.
  • Current recommendations include using a 23-gauge, 25 mm needle inserted into the anterolateral thigh at a 45-60 degree angle for infant vaccinations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the adherence of general practitioners (GPs) in a rural Australian practice division to the NH&MRC's vaccination site and needle size/gauge recommendations for infants and toddlers.
  • To identify any discrepancies between recommended and actual vaccination practices.

Main Methods:

  • A questionnaire survey was distributed to 150 GPs in the Hunter Rural Division of General Practice in 1999.
  • The survey collected demographic data and information on vaccination site (anterolateral thigh, buttock, deltoid) and needle characteristics (gauge, length, hub color) for children aged 2-18 months and over 18 months.

Main Results:

  • A 74.6% response rate (112 GPs) was achieved.
  • High compliance was observed for vaccination site selection, with the anterolateral thigh favored for younger children and the deltoid for older children. Buttock vaccination rates were low (4.1-4.3%).
  • Low compliance (3.5%) was found regarding the recommended needle (23 gauge, 25 mm, blue hub). The 25-gauge, 16 mm (orange hub) needle was most frequently used (48.7%), followed by the 25-gauge, 25 mm needle (40.2%).

Conclusions:

  • GPs in the Hunter Rural Division demonstrated good adherence to NH&MRC guidelines on vaccination site but not on needle size and gauge.
  • The study suggests that the NH&MRC's recommendations may be ambiguously worded, leading to uncertainty regarding vaccination practices, particularly for children aged 18 months and older.
Abstract

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