Universally Recommended Vaccinations: Clinic-Based Client Education When Used Alone
Clinic-based client education interventions focus on the content and provision of education to individuals or groups served in a medical or public health clinical setting. Educational approaches include the use of brochures, videotapes, posters, vaccine information statements (VIS), and face-to-face sessions designed to inform and motivate clients to obtain recommended vaccinations in the clinic. These activities are usually delivered in advance of and in addition to the client-provider interaction.
Educational approaches delivered in other settings (e.g. schools or child care centers), and multi-component interventions in which clinic-based education is combined with additional interventions (such as client reminder/recall or standing orders) are reviewed elsewhere.
Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings
The Community Preventive Services Task Force finds insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of clinic-based client education when implemented alone in increasing vaccination rates or reducing rates of vaccine preventable illness.
Although the four included studies otherwise provide sufficient evidence on effectiveness, the Task Force finding reflects concerns about applicability beyond the specific experiences of a limited number of researchers to the broader range of potential educational activities in clinic-based settings. Results from the included studies, which showed increases in immunizations for pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine among older adults with very low baseline coverage, may not generalize to other vaccines and populations.
Task Force Finding & Rationale Statement
The Task Force finding was made in February 2011. It is based on evidence from a previously completed review (search period 1980-1997) combined with evidence identified in an updated review (search period 1997-2009). Updates of reviews are conducted to incorporate more recent evidence.
These reviews were conducted on behalf of the Task Force by a team of specialists in systematic review methods, and in research, practice and policy related to vaccinations to prevent diseases.
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Learn more about the original review and Task Force finding in the Vaccinations to Prevent Diseases section of our publications page.
Publications
The findings and results of this systematic review have not been published. Read other Community Guide publications about Vaccinations to Prevent Diseases in our library, including articles about the previous review. You may also subscribe to be notified as new materials on this topic become available.
Disclaimer
The findings and conclusions on this page are those of the Community Preventive Services Task Force and do not necessarily represent those of CDC.
Sample Citation
The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation: Guide to Community Preventive Services. Universally recommended vaccinations: clinic-based client education when used alone. www.thecommunityguide.org/vaccines/universally/clinicbasededucation.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.
Review completed: February 2011
- Page last reviewed: December 15, 2011
- Page last updated: December 15, 2011
- Content source: The Guide to Community Preventive Services
