Identifying effective vaccine champions: Findings from a national survey of primary care professionals.
Jennifer A Heisler-MacKinnon, Tara Queen, Wei Yi Kong, Kathryn L Kennedy, Tami Thomas, William A Calo, Melissa B Gilkey
Author Information
Jennifer A Heisler-MacKinnon: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, UNC Lineberger Building, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, 135 Dauer Drive, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, USA. Electronic address: heislerm@email.unc.edu.
Tara Queen: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, 135 Dauer Drive, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, USA. Electronic address: tlqueen@unc.edu.
Wei Yi Kong: Mayo Clinic, Division of Epidemiology, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: kong.weiyi@mayo.edu.
Kathryn L Kennedy: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, 135 Dauer Drive, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, USA. Electronic address: klkenned@email.unc.edu.
Tami Thomas: Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Florida International University, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, 11200 SW 8 Street - AHC 3, Miami, FL 33199, USA. Electronic address: tthomas@fiu.edu.
William A Calo: Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, 90 Hope Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. Electronic address: wcalo@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
Melissa B Gilkey: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, UNC Lineberger Building, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, 135 Dauer Drive, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, USA.
BACKGROUND: Vaccine champions are common in primary care, but little is known about which champions are effective. METHODS: In 2022, we surveyed 2,144 US primary care professionals (PCPs) who reported working with vaccine champions. Respondents rated the champion with whom they worked most closely on their effectiveness at improving vaccination rates. RESULTS: About half (49 %) of PCPs perceived their closest champion as highly effective. PCPs perceived advanced practice providers and nursing staff as highly effective somewhat more often than physicians (52 % and 58 % vs 43 %, p <.001). Other correlates of perceived effectiveness included being a formally appointed versus informal champion, working extremely versus less closely with PCPs, and using a high (4-5) versus low (0-1) number of implementation strategies to improve vaccination rates (all p <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest vaccine champions may benefit from having formal roles and opportunities to work closely with colleagues to improve vaccination rates using multiple strategies.
