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HEALTH PROMOTION AND BACK TO BASICS: INFLUENZA VACCINATION IN AN ADULT
ONCOLOGY POPULATION. Regina Holdstock, RPH, BCPS, BCOP, Barbara Cashavelly,
MSN, RN, AOCN®, and Catherine Mannix, BSN, RN, OCN®, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Boston, MA.
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to establish an influenza vaccination
program within our ambulatory oncology practice. The goals were to provide
patient education, establish easy accessibility to the influenza vaccine,
and increase the rate of vaccination in our high-risk oncology population.
Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have
developed standards that recommend influenza vaccination for persons with
altered immunocompetence. At the MGH Cancer Center, the majority of the
patients fall within this criteria on the basis of having leukemia, lymphoma,
generalized malignancy, therapy with alkylating agents or antimetabolites,
and receiving radiation or large amounts of corticosteroids. Receiving
the flu vaccination can prevent serious complications, illness, and even
death from the virus. The MGH Cancer Center did not have a formal influenza
vaccination program. This impacted on clinical operations and led to inconsistent
practice.
Intervention: The importance for providing the vaccine presented an opportunity
to develop and implement a vaccination program that would meet the CDC
recommendations. A multidisciplinary task force designed the program to
be easy, visible, and accessible for patients and staff. Through the support
of the cancer center administration, funding was obtained. Educational
materials based on the CDC recommendations for influenza vaccination and
the new cancer center flu shot program were widely distributed.
A walk-in flu shot clinic occurred over a 4-week period during the month
of November. A central location provided visibility and easy accessibility.
Oncology RNs from various settings, pharmacists, and volunteers staffed
the clinic.
Interpretation: The task force successfully developed a formal vaccination
program for a high-risk oncology population. This program provided education
related to the CDC recommendations. The walk-in design provided an easy,
streamlined service. We were able to increase the previous vaccination
rate by 125%. Positive feedback was received from both patients and cancer
center staff. This program will be expanded and repeated on an annual
basis.
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