Implementation of a new clinical practice guideline regarding pain management during childhood vaccine injections.

Objective: To determine the impact of a multifaceted knowledge translation strategy for a new vaccination pain management guideline on public health immunizers' attitudes, beliefs and use of pain-relieving strategies during childhood vaccination.

Method: Using a randomized controlled pre-post study design, public health nurses (PHNs) at intervention sites received a multifaceted knowledge translation intervention about new pain management guidelines incorporated in the British Columbia Immunization Program Manual, including education, supplies and online support. Attitudes and beliefs of PHNs toward immunization pain and pain management, and use of pain-relieving strategies were compared for the intervention sites between the pre- and postimplementation phases.

Who knows more about immunization?: Survey of public health nurses and physicians.

Objective: To report the findings of a knowledge survey of nurse and physician immunization providers.

Design: Cross-sectional postal survey assessing demographic characteristics and vaccine knowledge.

Setting: British Columbia (BC).

Method of administration affects adolescent post-immunization survey response rate: phone, paper, internet.

The recent introduction of new vaccines into the school-based immunization program in British Columbia (BC) included monitoring of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) for these new vaccines. This commentary discusses different methods used to collect AEFIs in school immunization campaigns and the effects on response rate. The results of a study using an internet-based tool inspired this paper.

Identifying attitudes, beliefs and reported practices of nurses and doctors as immunization providers.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study conducted to examine the attitudes, beliefs, behavioural intentions and self-reported behaviour of nurses and physicians relating to key immunization behaviours and compare the findings for nurses and physicians.

Background: Immunization is an important and effective public health intervention. Understanding immunization providers' attitudes and beliefs toward immunization has the potential to improve educational efforts and lead to behavioural change.

One arm or two? Concurrent administration of meningococcal C conjugate and hepatitis B vaccines in pre-teens.

Background: The purpose of this study was to: (a) compare rates of local reactions from meningococcal C conjugate (Neis Vac-C) and hepatitis B vaccines (Recombivax HB), and (b) compare local reactions when both injections were given in one arm versus one in each arm.

Methods: Schools were randomized to have grade six students receive both vaccines in one arm (One Arm Group), or one vaccine in each arm (Two Arm Group; MCC always given in left arm). Structured telephone interviews of parents were conducted, and respondents were asked about local and systemic reactions, interference with school or other activities, need for medical attention, and lost parental work time.

Adult tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis immunization: knowledge, beliefs, behavior and anticipated uptake.

Background: Lifetime protection against pertussis has been adopted as a goal of immunization programs in Canada. To anticipate adult coverage with a combined product containing tetanus (T) and diphtheria (d) toxoids and acellular pertussis (aP) vaccine as a booster dose, we conducted a survey of households in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods: In a random telephone survey involving 800 adults, 25 years of age and older, we assessed current behaviors related to adult Td immunization and beliefs regarding pertussis vaccine under various scenarios relevant to adult decision-making.