A Multicomponent Intervention to Improve Pneumococcal Vaccination Knowledge Among Internal Medicine Residents

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Immunization Practices
• Public Health

Background:

• Updated pneumococcal vaccination guidelines were issued in 2014 and 2016.
• A knowledge gap regarding these guidelines was identified among resident physicians.
• This gap impacts primary care during postgraduate training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the identified knowledge gap in pneumococcal vaccination guidelines.
• To design and implement an educational curriculum for resident physicians.
• To improve understanding and application of current vaccination recommendations.

Main Methods:

• A curriculum incorporating a pre-education quiz, survey, video, pocket card, and poster was developed.
• Educational materials were disseminated over a 7-week period.
• Intervention included video, laminated pocket cards, and electronic guideline summaries.

Main Results:

• Pre-intervention quiz revealed significant knowledge deficiencies in pneumococcal vaccination schedules.
• Only 31.2% of residents correctly identified the appropriate schedule for elderly patients with comorbidities.
• Post-intervention survey indicated 87.5% of residents found the tools effective for improving understanding and implementation.

Conclusions:

• A novel educational strategy was implemented to enhance resident knowledge of pneumococcal vaccination guidelines.
• The educational tools demonstrated effectiveness in improving understanding.
• The strategy aims for eventual translation into improved clinical practice for pneumococcal vaccination.