ArticleVaccine2020
Is flu vaccination opt-out feasible? Evidence from vaccination programme implementers and managers in the English National Health Service.
Article in Vaccine, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Value(s) of Vaccination: Building the Scientific Evidence According to a Value-Based Healthcare Approach.Frontiers in public health · 2022Pooled it
- Identifying reasons for non-acceptance of influenza vaccine in healthcare workers: an observational study using declination form data.BMC health services research · 2023Observational
- COVID-19 vaccination beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours among health and social care workers in the UK: A mixed-methods study.PloS one · 2022Article
- An Examination of COVID-19-Related Stressors among Parents.European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn 2018/19, English NHS trusts (NHSTs) implemented an 'opt-out' policy for seasonal flu vaccination in frontline healthcare workers (HCWs). HCWs declining the vaccination were asked to sign an opt-out form and provide a reason for their decision. In addition, HCWs working in higher risk hospital environments (e.g. oncology) were asked to inform their manager about their declination decision. The policy aimed to provide greater insight into reasons for vaccination decline and information from HCWs in higher risk areas was intended for use in considering HCW redeployment. This study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and perceived value of the policy during the 2018/19 flu vaccination season.
methodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews across 9 NHSTs in England with different levels of HCW flu vaccination uptake in 2017/18. We interviewed 30 vaccination programme implementers and 27 managers.
findingsThe purpose of the policy was poorly understood, and interviewees did not know how data on decliners was being used. Most NHSTs tried to collect the personal details of decliners and, in some instances, these were recorded in Electronic Staff Records and reported to line-managers for action. This created strain on employer-employee relationships, leading to decliners refusing to complete opt-out forms and some vaccinators not implementing the policy. None of the NHSTs had a redeployment policy for decliners, arguing that this was impractical due to strain on staffing levels.
conclusionA flu-vaccination opt-out approach for HCWs did not appear acceptable in our sampled NHSTs, due to a lack of clear messaging about its purpose and complicated implementation. To promote an opt-out approach effectively, there needs to be clear communication of its purpose, which should be to explore reasons for decline rather than identify and 'push' decliners to vaccinate, so as not to damage staff relationships. NHSTs should involve their workforce in developing flu vaccination approaches.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.