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Computer technology and the childhood immunization programme: an investigation of low uptake rates in Coventry
A K Lyon1, M Bardhan, P Barker
1Public Health Directorate, South Birmingham PCT, Birmingham, B13 8JL, UK. akly0n@yahoo.co.uk
Insights
Childhood vaccination uptake rates in Coventry were inaccurately reported due to data system issues. Both systematic under-reporting and programming anomalies in the Southwest Child Health (SWIFT) system affected the Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly (COVER) statistics.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Informatics
- Vaccination Programs
Background:
- Coventry Primary Care Trust (PCT) experienced persistently low childhood vaccination uptake rates.
- Operational processes were evaluated, leading to an examination of data systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the reasons behind consistently low childhood vaccination uptake rates in Coventry PCT.
- Assess the accuracy of data systems used for tracking vaccination coverage.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed data from the Child Health Information Department (CHID) and the Finance Department.
- Examined under-reporting of vaccinations and methodological issues in data collection.
- Evaluated the impact of the Southwest Child Health (SWIFT) system and local Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly (COVER) statistics.
Main Results:
- Finance Department data indicated 0.79-1.92% higher uptake rates than CHID data.
- The SWIFT system excluded children registered within the boundary but residing outside it.
- Coventry PCT's COVER statistics were based on a subgroup of the eligible population.
Conclusions:
- Current NHS computer technology yields inaccurate COVER programme statistics.
- Systematic under-reporting to CHID moderately lowers uptake rates.
- SWIFT system anomaly compromises data validity and comparability between PCTs.
Background:
The childhood vaccination programme in Coventry Primary Care Trust (PCT) has resulted in consistently low uptake rates for a number of years. After an evaluation of operational processes, an examination of the data systems was performed.
Methods:
The under-reporting of vaccinations performed and methodology issues were investigated using data collected by the Child Health Information Department (CHID) and the Finance Department.
Results:
Data held by the Finance Department result in an uptake rate of between 0.79 and 1.92% higher than those held by the CHID. Locally, the Southwest Child Health (SWIFT) system, the programme used to calculate uptake rates by many of the PCTs across the country, excludes those children residing outside the boundary but registered within it. Coventry PCT's Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly (COVER) statistics are based on a subgroup of the responsible population.
Conclusions:
The computer technology currently utilized by the NHS provides inaccurate statistics for the COVER programme. Systematic under-reporting to the CHID results in moderately lowered uptake rates. A programming anomaly in the SWIFT system has resulted in the collection of data based on a subgroup of the responsible population. This undermines the validity of the statistics collected and renders comparability of data between different PCTs, particularly those using different systems, difficult.
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