Adapting an Immunization Assessment Tool to increase adult immunization coverage in Canadian jurisdictions: An implementation case study

The purpose of this study phase is to assess usability and acceptability of a Nova Scotia-adapted Immunization Assessment Tool among users, as well as its perceived impact on vaccine-related recommendation awareness, vaccine preventable disease risk perceptions, and vaccine seeking behaviours. This study aims to make it easier for individuals and their healthcare providers to access information and resources about vaccine recommendations that are specific to Nova Scotia.

Adult vaccines offer many health benefits and improved quality of life, however, the number of people getting vaccinated in Canada often fails to meet countrywide goals. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) suggests several vaccines for youth, adults, and seniors, which are made with the lifestyles and needs of individuals in mind. Although NACI makes suggestions, it is up to Canadian provinces and territories to decide how to fund and put vaccine programs in place. While many adult vaccines have been proven to be effective and safe, there is still a need for more public knowledge about the benefits of recommended vaccines, as well as more clear recommendations by health care providers (HCPs). Immunization assessment tools (IATs) address these issues by allowing individuals and HCPs to determine what vaccines are required.

The success of tools like IATs depends on the setting where the tool is being used, the skills and knowledge of people using the tools, and the fit of the tool itself. Therefore, in order to allow successful use of the existing IATs in more regions, the IATs must be updated for the new setting. For example, Prince Edward Island (PEI) has previously used a single-provider approach to adult vaccination, having Public Health Nurses give most vaccines. Other Canadian provinces have different approaches, however, such as in Nova Scotia (NS) where a multi-provider approach allows many different HCPs to give vaccines. It is, therefore, important to develop IATs that can help users understand the range of vaccination options in a multi-provider region.

You can participate in the study if you are:

• A healthcare provider that delivers vaccination,
• An individual involved in vaccine-related policy recommendations/development/promotion, or
• An adult community member (18 years of age of more) for whom provincial vaccine recommendations have been made.

The questionnaire will be made up of three steps and be completed and submitted by participants through a secure web application called REDCap.

The questionnaire should take you approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete. The steps you will be asked to complete for the questionnaire are:

Step 1) The first part of the questionnaire (i.e., IAT-NS pre-survey) include a variety of questions with multiple choice and sliding scale-ratings. It will include questions about your demographic information and your thoughts about the use of the IAT and how you currently receive or give vaccine recommendations.

Step 2) You will then be asked to try using the IAT-NS.

Step 3) You will then be asked to complete a second questionnaire (i.e., IAT-NS post-survey), including questions in the form of multiple choice, sliding scale-ratings, and open-ended questions. It may include questions such as if the IAT-NS is easy to understand and use, if it is relevant to the NS population and if you believe the use of IATs could change how people access vaccine recommendations.

To participate: https://redcap.link/IAT-NS_Survey

For more information or if you are interested in participating, please contact Jessica Mannette by email at jessica.mannette@dal.ca or at 902-470-8141. Your participation is voluntary and greatly appreciated. This study is approved by the IWK Health Research Ethics Board (REB), file # 1030287.