Matching Items (2)
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- All Subjects: Homeless persons
- Creators: Harrell, Liz
- Member of: Programs and Communities
Description
Background: Healthy People 2020, a government organization that sets health goals for the United States, has established the benchmark objective of 70% influenza vaccination coverage. National trends show immunization rates are a dismal 41.7% for the adult population. Persons
experiencing homelessness are a vulnerable population in which access to preventative health care services is lacking. Prevention of acute illness, whenever possible, is crucial to maintaining the health of this population. The purpose of this project is to increase influenza vaccinations through staff education at a homeless clinic.
Methods: Eighty-eight volunteer staff, at a student led homeless clinic, received education on the influenza vaccinations. The education occurred at the first orientation meeting of the fall semester in 2016 and consisted of; the importance of immunizations, goals of Healthy People 2020, and an emphasis on addressing patient objections. The effectiveness of the program
compared the percentage of patients immunized from August - December 2016 to 2015.
Results: Post intervention, 44% of the clinic patients were immunized against influenza,
compared to 18% (pre-intervention). This finding resulted in a statistically significant increase in
vaccinations (Z= -5.513, p= < .001, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Eighty-eight volunteers were
present at the influenza vaccination educational intervention and 82 returned their surveys
(response rate 93%). The average score of the posttest was 96% (range 70-100%).
Conclusions: These findings support staff education on influenza vaccinations as a strategy for
increasing vaccination in the homeless population. Such interventions provide promise to
increase influenza vaccinations, however, they fall short of meeting the goals of Healthy People
2020. Identifying innovative interventions is critical to meet the goals of Healthy People 2020.
experiencing homelessness are a vulnerable population in which access to preventative health care services is lacking. Prevention of acute illness, whenever possible, is crucial to maintaining the health of this population. The purpose of this project is to increase influenza vaccinations through staff education at a homeless clinic.
Methods: Eighty-eight volunteer staff, at a student led homeless clinic, received education on the influenza vaccinations. The education occurred at the first orientation meeting of the fall semester in 2016 and consisted of; the importance of immunizations, goals of Healthy People 2020, and an emphasis on addressing patient objections. The effectiveness of the program
compared the percentage of patients immunized from August - December 2016 to 2015.
Results: Post intervention, 44% of the clinic patients were immunized against influenza,
compared to 18% (pre-intervention). This finding resulted in a statistically significant increase in
vaccinations (Z= -5.513, p= < .001, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Eighty-eight volunteers were
present at the influenza vaccination educational intervention and 82 returned their surveys
(response rate 93%). The average score of the posttest was 96% (range 70-100%).
Conclusions: These findings support staff education on influenza vaccinations as a strategy for
increasing vaccination in the homeless population. Such interventions provide promise to
increase influenza vaccinations, however, they fall short of meeting the goals of Healthy People
2020. Identifying innovative interventions is critical to meet the goals of Healthy People 2020.
ContributorsVossoughi, Tiffany (Author) / Harrell, Liz (Thesis advisor)
Created2017-04-17
Description
Due to complexities surrounding healthcare for the homeless, continuity of care is virtually nonexistent. Continuity of care refers to individualized, comprehensive health care services that are timely, accessible, and coordinated. Health care continuity has been demonstrated to reduce mortality and improve health outcomes. A literature review determined access to mobile phones could improve health care continuity among homeless individuals. LifeLine is a state and federal program providing free phones and phone service to impoverished Americans. Enrollment into LifeLine can be challenging for the homeless, who lack access to even the most basic necessities. A project was developed to assist homeless individuals with enrollment into LifeLine in order to increase mobile phone access and improve care continuity. For four weeks, LifeLine enrollment assistance was offered to homeless clients of a mobile health outreach organization in San Francisco, California. Original, anonymous pre- and post-intervention surveys were administered to collect data regarding phone access and healthcare utilization patterns among this population. All 13 participants endorsed mobile phone access; only one participant completed enrollment into LifeLine. Seventy percent of participants reported health care continuity was directly improved by phone access, endorsing consistent healthcare visits and low hospitalization rates. Ninety-two percent of participants reported preexisting awareness of LifeLine, which likely contributed to low program enrollment. This project yielded clinically significant results indicating access to mobile phones can improve health care continuity for the homeless. Improving health care continuity for this population has both ethical and economic implications and remains a public health priority.
ContributorsHaug, Hailey (Author) / Harrell, Liz (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2021-04-26