Immunization education among family practice residency programs

The dynamic nature of immunization schedules, shortages, and administration techniques makes keeping up to date with current national recommendations difficult and necessitates periodic evaluation of immunization teaching resources.

This study surveyed family practice residency program directors in 1998 to assess their satisfaction with immunization teaching resources and interest in new resources. Subsequently, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Group on Immunization Education developed a series of educational materials devoted to educating family physicians about immunizations. In 2001, residency directors were surveyed again to evaluate the educational resources.

Most program directors reported satisfaction with resources currently available to them for teaching residents about childhood immunizations, but about half (41% in 1998 versus 55% in 2001) agreed that keeping up to date on childhood immunizations was difficult. The corresponding figures for adult immunizations were 27% in 1998 and 36% in 2001. Pocket-size immunization schedules were ranked highly important (53% in 1998 versus 45% in 2001). Many would use handheld computer immunization schedules (53%). Although satisfaction with available resources did not increase following introduction of a newly developed journal supplement and Web site, the limited response received was favorable.

Immunization teaching materials developed by family physicians, especially those that make use of evolving technologies, can be useful resources for individuals teaching family practice residents and for keeping up to date on recommendations for immunizations.