Evidence Based Project Assignment Paper

PICOT question: “Among geriatric patients (P), does the use of influenza vaccine (I) versus not receiving the vaccine (C) reduce the risk of developing pneumonia during the flu season (O) measured over ten years (T)?”

Proposed solution

Although it is acknowledged that seasonal influenza vaccination is a good strategy for combating seasonal flu among geriatric populations (as presented in Paules et al., 2018), a communication gap exists between the public members and medical personnel that has hindered vaccination efforts. As Schmid et al. (2017) and Kamimura et al. (2017) indicate, there are public misconceptions about influenza vaccines that have hindered their use.  Evidence Based Project Assignment Paper Schmid et al. (2017) is succinct in concluding that there are a range of psychological, contextual, socio-demographic and physical barriers that are responsible for public hesitancy in accessing the vaccines. Kamimura et al. (2017) goes a step further in recommending that medical personnel be actively engaged in providing influenza education to the public so as to improve vaccination intensity. The implication is that medical personnel (particularly nurses) should engage in public forums with patients to address their misconceptions with the intention of reducing their hesitancy and increasing their confidence in the vaccine. Given this awareness, the present study proposes that improving vaccine uptake would reduce influenza incidences.

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Organization culture

The proposed solution aligns with organization culture and resources since it emphasizes the new care awareness that focuses on prevention as a more convenient, cheaper approach that preempts the more expensive and less efficient treatment approach. Vaccination is a preventive care approach that protects patients from disease incidence at a cheaper price (when compared to care) while eliminating the hustle and costs associated with disease treatment. Besides that, the proposed solution makes use of the existing immunization systems that include the medical personnel and vaccines to reduce disease incidence (Pokorski, 2018).

Expected outcomes

The project intends to increase influenza vaccination rates among geriatric populations with the intention of reducing influenza disease incidence. It anticipates that vaccine technology will work as expected by introducing transient immunity into the body so that although the influenza causing pathogens have an opportunity to gain entry into the body, the body’s acquired immunity would be able to halt disease progression. At the conclusion of the study, reduced influenza disease incidence will be reported among immunized persons when compare to their non-immunized counterparts.

Method to achieve outcomes

The expected outcomes would be applied through a retrospective study approach. In this case, the study will rely on medical records covering the influenza season. The focus will be on identifying geriatric patients then determining their influenza vaccination status along with the disease incidence. The intention is to determine if significant trends exist between vaccine uptake and disease incidence (Crewell, 2013).

Outcome impact

The study results are expected to have extensive consequences on medical practice. Firstly, they will improve care quality in terms of ensuring that geriatric patients receive the care that they require. Secondly, it would ensure that patient centered-care is provided by collecting tangible information that would then be presented to patients to allow them make informed choices. Thirdly, it would improve the efficiency of vaccination processes by highlighting their need and importance in improving care outcomes. Thirdly, it aligns with the prevailing environmental changes that highlight the increasing focus on preventive medicine. Finally, it has an effect on professional expertise by increasing the knowledge base of medical personnel and presenting them with evidence that allows them to be more proactive in recommending vaccination as preventive medicine (Pokorski, 2018).

References

Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Kamimura, A., Trinh, H., Weaver, S., Chernenko, A., Nourian, M., Assasnik, N. & Nguyen, H. (2017). Knowledge and perceptions of influenza vaccinations among college students in Vietnam and the United States. J Prev Med Public Health, 50(4), 268-273. DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.17.061

Paules, C., Sullivan, S., Subbarao, K. & Fauci, A. (2018). Chasing seasonal influenza – the need for a universal influenza vaccine. New England Journal of Medicine, 378, 7-9. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1714916

Pokorski, M. (2018). Current concepts in medical research and practice: advances in experimental medicine and biology. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG.

Schmid, P., Rauber, D., Betsch, C., Lidolt, G. & Denker, M. (2017). Barriers of Influenza Vaccination Intention and Behavior – A Systematic Review of Influenza Vaccine Hesitancy, 2005 – 2016. PLoS ONE, 12(1), e0170550. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170550  . Evidence Based Project Assignment Paper