Simply asking patients to get the flu vaccine, and combining it with helpful video and print messages, is enough to persuade many who visit emergency departments to roll up their sleeves, according to a new study led by UC San Francisco.
Robert M. Rodriguez, MD, a professor of emergency medicine with the UCSF School of Medicine, and colleagues found a 32% vaccine uptake in patients who were asked if they’d be interested in getting the flu shot and told their health providers would be informed. The researchers saw a 41% uptake for those who were asked about receiving a flu shot and received a pamphlet, watched a three-minute video of a physician with a similar ethnic background discussing the vaccine and were told about the benefits of the vaccine in person.
The study published March 26, 2024 in NEJM Evidence.
The researchers say this type of systematic approach could lead to more underserved people receiving vaccines, especially those whose primary health care occurs in emergency departments.
“This research arose from our desire to address the health disparities that we see every day in our emergency department, especially among homeless persons, the uninsured and immigrant populations,” said the Dr. Rodriguez, who is study's the first author.