A KNOWLEDGE-BASED APPROACH TO INCREASE THE UPTAKE OF THE INFLUENZA VACCINE IN PREGNANCY

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to increase knowledge on the safety and effectiveness of the influenza vaccine among the staff in a large hospital in Southern California with the goal of increasing its uptake among pregnant patients. The project aims were to a) assess staff knowledge about the influenza vaccine’s safety and efficacy, b) evaluate staff attitudes and practices in recommending the vaccine, and c) examine changes in vaccine administrations before and after the intervention. Background: Contracting the influenza virus during pregnancy poses significant risks to the pregnant patient and the unborn child. While any pregnant individual can be affected by influenza, those who are not vaccinated face a sixfold increase in the risk of hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit, pneumonia, and mortality. Research highlights concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy, vaccine hesitancy, and ineffective uptake strategies as contributors to low influenza vaccine uptake. Research also suggests that pregnant patients who received vaccine education from their providers were more likely to receive the influenza vaccine. Methodology: The study utilized a pretest-posttest design to measure the changes in staff knowledge, attitudes, vaccine recommendation practices, and vaccination rates before and after completing an educational session. The project took place at an obstetrics clinic in a large tertiary hospital in Southern California, with 139 eligible healthcare provider participants. Results: Eight participants completed the pretest, intervention, and posttest. The mean difference between the pre-and post-test scores was not significant (t= -1.94, p=0.093). However, the mean difference between the 2022 and 2023 vaccine administrations was significant (t= -9.96, p<0.001). The weekly average number of influenza vaccinations administered increased from 24 in 2022 to 126 in 2023, as shown by a c-chart. Conclusion: Implementing strategies to address persistent barriers to flu vaccine uptake among pregnant patients is crucial. Providing educational material to meet specific knowledge gaps or practices among staff members is also imperative.