The telephone: an overlooked technology for prevention in family medicine

Annual influenza vaccination has long been recommended for the elderly population. Despite this recommendation, immunization rates have remained very low. This study measured the effects of two approaches to the provision of influenza immunization to the 65-years-and-over age group in a single family practice. The "drop-in" group (N=123) was informed of the availability of the vaccine at visits made during the vaccination period. The "phone" group (N=120) was notified of the availability of the vaccine by telephone and was invited to come in for the shot. An immunization rate of 50.8% for the "phone" group and 26.8% for the "drop-in" group was obtained (P=.0002). These results contrast strongly with the overall immunization rates of 5.9% and 9.5% obtained during the previous two years, when no active immunization policy was in place. The telephone approach was found to benefit the type of patient at greatest risk from influenza: the chronically ill and the aged. It is clear that having a defined immunization policy substantially improves the provision of influenza vaccination. The authors discuss the effectiveness and practicality of these approaches to the delivery of influenza vaccine and their applicability to other forms of prevention in family medicine.