KEYWORD1:
Hepatitis B vaccination, catch-up; Vietnamese adolescents, Physician in-office training

BACKGROUND:
One in seven Vietnamese-Americans is chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). A study conducted in 2001 by the University of California, San Francisco shows that only 18% of 2,036 Vietnamese adolescents had received their 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine. A risk factor for not being vaccinated was having a Vietnamese provider.

OBJECTIVE:
To raise the adolescent hepatitis vaccination rate by at least 20% in Vietnamese Vaccines for Children (VFC) provider practices within 11 months.

METHOD:
Fifteen intervention offices with 15 matched controls were randomly selected in 8 metropolitan areas. A bilingual/bicultural interviewer administered an adolescent hepatitis B-related knowledge, attitudes, and practice survey in each office and adolescent hepatitis B vaccination data were collected using CASA followed by AFIX. An in-office training session in intervention sites presented an adolescent hepatitis B tracking/reminder/recall system, standing orders, correct utilization of the VFC program, provision of adequate translator services and evening and weekend hepatitis B vaccination hours. Follow-up data collection will occur 11 months post intervention.

RESULT:
In a random sample of 1,100 adolescent (persons 9-18 years of age) charts from the first 6 cities, approximately 60% (49%, 71%) of adolescents had not received the 3-dose series of hepatitis B vaccine. Of those who had started but did not finish the series, 96% (93%, 100%) missed an opportunity for the 2nd or 3rd dose. Complete data will be presented.

CONCLUSION:
Hepatitis B vaccination rates among the Vietnamese adolescent population are low. One-on-one in-office provider training may help raise vaccination rates among undervaccinated populations.
LEARNINGOBJECTIVES:
Describe an effective strategy to work with VFC providers to raise the vaccination rates.