A national survey of immunization programs regarding immunization information systems data sharing and use

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Immunization Information Systems (IISs) are critical for tracking vaccination coverage and managing public health.
• Utilizing IIS data for research can enhance understanding of vaccination trends and inform public health strategies.
• Barriers to research utilization of IIS data can hinder public health advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize data sharing and usage practices within IISs.
• To identify barriers hindering the use of IIS data for research purposes.
• To understand the current landscape of IIS research.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among immunization program managers (IPMs) from 64 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grantee immunization programs (IPs).
• The survey was administered between July and September 2012, achieving a response rate of over 95% (61/64 IPMs).
• Data collected focused on practices, data sharing, and perceived barriers to research use.

Main Results:

• Insufficient time and limited staff were the primary barriers reported by IPMs for using IIS data in research.
• IPMs who viewed research as part of their program's mission were more likely to utilize IIS data for research (P = .045).
• Research commonly focused on determinants of vaccination coverage; data-sharing agreements were more prevalent in programs using IIS data for research.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the lack of time and insufficient staff is crucial for enabling research with IIS data.
• Providing adequate resources to immunization programs is essential to facilitate research endeavors.
• Fostering a research-oriented mission within immunization programs can increase data utilization for public health insights.