Strategies to Improve Covid-19 Vaccination in a Pregnant, Marginalized Population

Quality Improvement Project

Bibliographic Data

ID11027711
AuthorsSmita Bakhai (0000-0002-9212-4478, Smita Bakhai and Jacquelyn Jordan are with the Department of Internal Medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences State University of New York at Buffalo. Jennifer Stoll is with the Department of Family Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Family Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo.), Jacquelyn Jordan (Smita Bakhai and Jacquelyn Jordan are with the Department of Internal Medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences State University of New York at Buffalo. Jennifer Stoll is with the Department of Family Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Family Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo.), Jennifer A Stoll (Smita Bakhai and Jacquelyn Jordan are with the Department of Internal Medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences State University of New York at Buffalo. Jennifer Stoll is with the Department of Family Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Family Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo.), Jennifer Stoll (University at Buffalo, State University of New York)
Year2024
Volume114
IssueS4
PagesS322-S329
Publication date2024-05-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2024.307665
PMID38748956
OpenAlexW4396916696
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited19

Objectives. To improve COVID-19 vaccination rates in pregnant and recently pregnant women from a baseline rate of 30.8% to 60% over 6 months in a marginalized population. Methods. This quality improvement (QI) project was conducted in a federally qualified health center in Western New York between November 2021 and April 2022, using a Lean Six Sigma method. The QI team created a fishbone diagram, process flow map, and driver diagram. Significant barriers were multiple preferred languages, limited health literacy, and a knowledge gap. Increased vaccination rates were the outcome measure. The process measures were attendance at educational events and increased knowledge in community health workers (CHWs) and doulas. Education for CHWs and patients, creating multilingual educational resources, and motivational interviewing sessions for CHWs and patients were the major interventions. We performed data analysis by using weekly run charts and a statistical process control chart. Results. We achieved a sustainable increase in the COVID-19 vaccination rates in women from 30.0% to 48% within 6 months. Conclusions. Patient education in their preferred languages and at health literacy levels and CHWs’ engagement played a crucial role in achieving success. ( Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S4):S322–S329. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307665 )

Attendance · Business · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health care · Health literacy · Literacy · Medical education · Pedagogy · Political science · Population · Program evaluation · Psychological intervention · Public health · Quality management · Vaccination · COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Gerontology

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