Vaccination Programs: Clinic-Based Client Education when Used Alone

Findings and Recommendations

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) finds insufficient evidence to determine whether clinic-based client education increases vaccination rates.

Four studies reported effectiveness for pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine among older adults, but they had very low baseline coverage. The CPSTF finding reflects concerns about the intervention’s applicability to a broader range of vaccinations, populations, and clinic-based settings.

The full CPSTF Finding and Rationale Statement and supporting documents for Vaccination Programs: Clinic-Based Client Education when Used Alone are available in The Community Guide Collection on CDC Stacks.

Intervention

Clinic-based client education interventions target individuals or groups in medical or public health clinical settings. Brochures, videotapes, posters, vaccine information statements, or face-to-face sessions are provided to educate and motivate clients to get recommended vaccinations, typically before clients are seen by healthcare providers.

About The Systematic Review

The CPSTF finding is based on evidence from a Community Guide systematic review completed in 2011 (4 studies with 6 study arms, search period 1980-2009) combined with more recent evidence (1 study, search period 2009-2012). The finding updates and replaces the 2011 finding for Clinic-Based Client Education When Used Alone.

Study Characteristics

Two studies focused on increasing pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccinations among older adult patients in one clinical setting

Summary of Results

Five studies were included; four provided a common measurement.

Overall vaccination rates increased by a median of 10 percentage points (4 studies with 6 study arms)
- Estimate based largely on three related study arms focused on pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccinations among older adults in one clinical setting
- Changes from other three study arms were inconsistent and smaller in magnitude
One study found only a very small change in vaccinations administered

Summary of Economic Evidence

An economic review was not conducted because CPSTF did not have enough information to determine if the intervention works.

Applicability

Applicability was not assessed because CPSTF did not have enough information to determine if the intervention works.

Evidence Gaps

Is this educational approach applicable to a wider range of vaccines and populations?

Implementation Considerations and Resources

Despite the finding of insufficient evidence, the following are considerations for implementation drawn from studies included in the evidence review, the broader literature, and expert opinion.

Clinic-based client education can be included in two multicomponent intervention approaches recommended by CPSTF:

CPSTF recommends educational approaches delivered in other settings (e.g. schools or child care centers).