Patient recall of tetanus immunization status

Tetanus is a serious, often fatal disease that should be completely preventable by appropriate immunization. The present study, done in an urban family practice group, examined the correlation between patients' recollection of their most recent tetanus booster, and the actual date, obtained from office records. Forty-three of the 62 patients (69%) estimated within a year of the correct date; 33 (53%) recalled the date accurately. Recent information on the epidemiology of tetanus is discussed, as are previous studies of tetanus immunization practice.