Strategies to increase influenza vaccination rates in general practice features in annual Chief Medical Officer’s guidance

A new study has been published on organisational factors associated with practice success in the annual seasonal influenza vaccination programme in BMJ Open, the new open access journal from the BMJ.

 

The study entitled ‘Strategies to increase influenza vaccination rates: outcomes of a nationwide cross-sectional survey of UK general practice‘ was led by Dr Laura Dexter, virologist, while based in Sheffield University under Prof Robert Read with collaboration from Niro Siriwardena at the University of Lincoln.

The study was funded by the NIHR Policy Research Programme to determine how to improve flu vaccination rates in at-risk groups in the UK. Flu vaccine uptake is below the national and international target of 75% particularly in the under 65-year-old age group. This study used an online survey to GPs, nurses and practice managers to identify which strategies and procedures reported were associated with higher rates of flu vaccine uptake. The recommendations have been summarised in annual guidance in the seasonal flu plan (Annex B – GP practice checklist p11-12) from the UK Chief Medical Officer, Dame Professor Sally Davies.

The study builds on previous work led by Niro Siriwardena on methods to improve influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates in primary care and in general practice in Lincolnshire which led to a definitive cluster randomised controlled study of an educational intervention for general practice. The Community and Health Research Group are also working on the role of influenza vaccination in preventing cardiovascular disease. After studies showing a reduction in risk of heart attack linked to influenza vaccination (published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal and Vaccine) the team are now working on a case-control study to investigate potential role for influenza and/or pneumococcal vaccination in prevention against stroke and transient ischaemic attack (IPVASTIA), funded by the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit programme.

The new study in BMJ Open has identified seven key strategies that were significantly associated with the success of practices’ seasonal flu vaccination campaigns which include leadership (a named responsible flu lead), ordering sufficient vaccines, up-to-date registers of patients at risk, starting the programme early, robust call and recall arrangements, offering appointments and opportunistically vaccination, and working with community midwives for vaccination in pregnancy. If widely implemented by general practices, these strategies could improve vaccination rates by 7% to 8%. The learning has been publicised in professional magazines and translated into an online learning module for GPs which is having impact on professional practice.

REST project featured on ITN Tonight documentary on insomnia

The Resources for Effective Sleep Treatment (REST) project, led by Prof Niro Siriwardena, was featured on “Tonight” the flagship ITV1 documentary programme,  the highest rating current affairs series on UK television for the past decade. In the programme “Waking up to Insomnia” screened on 17 November at 7:30pm, Geraint Vincent revealed some results of the Great British Sleep Survey and found out from sufferers how it affected their lives. The programme discussed the problems of insomnia, why sleeping tablets were not a good solution and why Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBTi) although effective is not widely available in the NHS. The REST project funded by the Health Foundation aimed to improve primary care for insomnia by developing primary care friendly sleep assessment and CBTi. A follow-on translational project, Improving Primary Care Resources for Effective Sleep Treatment (IPCREST) funded by East Midlands Health Innovation and Educational Cluster aims to spread the learning through seminars, workshops and an e-learning programme for healthcare practitioners. Further information is available on the University website and at the REST website. Niro is presenting on “How to provide better care for insomnia: Resources for effective sleep treatment in the general practice consultation” at the Sleep and Mental Health conference at the Royal Society of Medicine on 23 November 2011.

Review of the Quality and Outcomes framework highly commended in the BMA book awards

A book edited by Dr Stephen Gillam (University of Cambridge) and Prof Niroshan Siriwardena (University of Lincoln) and published by Radcliffe Publishing Ltd entitled “The Quality and Outcomes Framework: QOF – transforming general practice” was highly commended at the BMA Medical Book Awards 2011. Steve Gillam and Niro Siriwardena were present at the awards ceremony in BMA House in London.

Highly commended in this year's BMA Medical Book Awards 2011

Contributors to the book include the architects of the QOF, developers, researchers, practitioners and commentators. Work is currently proceeding on a systematic review of research into the QOF involving the Universities of Cambridge, Lincoln and East Anglia.

Addition to Community & Health Research Team

Viet-Hai in his new role as Research Assistant

Viet-Hai Phung has just joined the School of Health & Social Care working with Professor Niro Siriwardena as a Research Assistant. Viet-Hai’s profile is as follows:-

My name is Viet-Hai Phung and I joined the School of Health and Social Care as a Research Assistant in September 2011. I am currently undertaking a systematic literature review as part of an NIHR programme for applied research entitled Prehospital Outcomes for Evidence Based Evaluation (PHOEBE) which is developing new ways of measuring the Impact of ambulance service care. In addition to this, I am currently involved in the editorial process for the journal, Quality in Primary Care.

My academic background is in politics and research methodology. In addition, I have nine years’ experience of working in applied research across a range of public policy areas, including social policy, community safety, higher education and housing. I have undertaken policy evaluations for the public and voluntary sector. Prior to joining the School of Health and Social Care, I worked as a Research Associate for six and a half years at the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University. I have a range of quantitative and qualitative research skills, as well as extensive experience of undertaking literature reviews and publishing for a range of audiences, including peer-reviewed journals and policy practitioners.