RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To examine preventive care visit patterns among commercially insured adolescents during 2003-2010. In 2005-2007, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended 3 vaccines targeted at adolescents. We also investigate the relationship between preventive care visits and immunization. STUDY DESIGN: Data were drawn from the MarketScan database. Adolescents aged 11-21 continuously enrolled in the same insurance plan during the calendar year were included. We calculated the annual proportion of adolescents with at least 1 preventive and 1 vaccination-related visit. Longitudinal analyses were conducted by following the 1992 birth cohort for 8 consecutive years. RESULTS: The proportion of adolescents making at least 1 preventive visit increased from 24.6%-41.1% during 2003-2010. The rate of vaccination-related visits increased from 12.9%-26.3%. The magnitude of the increase in preventive and vaccination-related visits was greater during the years in which ACIP issued recommendations. The rates of preventive and vaccination-related visits were considerably higher among female and early adolescents and adolescents in managed care plans. Longitudinal analyses indicated that only 2.4% of adolescents had an annual preventive visit during the 8 years. CONCLUSIONS: Yearly improvements in preventive care visits by adolescents were substantial. ACIP recommendations may be associated with this improvement. However, ongoing efforts are needed to improve the use and delivery of preventive care services.
Assuntos
Visita a Consultório Médico/tendências , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Serviços Preventivos de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Vacinação/tendências , Adolescente , Distribuição por Idade , Criança , Bases de Dados Factuais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Programas de Assistência Gerenciada , Visita a Consultório Médico/estatística & dados numéricos , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Distribuição por Sexo , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Vacinação/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess practices regarding the expanded Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for influenza vaccination in children among US pediatricians and family medicine physicians (FMs) and strategies to promote vaccination. STUDY DESIGN: We administered a survey between July and October 2009 to 416 pediatricians and 424 FMs from nationally representative networks. RESULTS: The response rate was 75% (79% pediatricians, 70% FMs). FMs were less likely than pediatricians to report adherence to ACIP recommendations (35% vs 65%; adjusted risk ratio [RR], 0.60; 95% CI, 0.50-0.72). Most physicians (89% pediatricians and 89% FMs) reported using posters or pamphlets to encourage influenza vaccination, and 57% pediatricians and 41% FMs reported offering after hours dedicated influenza vaccination clinics. Only 23% pediatricians and 14% FMs reported providing written, telephone, or e-mail reminders to all children. Having dedicated influenza vaccination clinics after hours or weekends was associated with routine vaccination of all children (adjusted RR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.15-1.57). CONCLUSION: In the first year of the expanded ACIP recommendations to immunize all eligible children against influenza, two-thirds of pediatricians and one-half of FMs reported adherence, although less than one-quarter were actively engaging in reminder/recall efforts. Practices that adhered to the ACIP recommendations were more likely to put a substantial effort into promoting vaccination opportunities.