KEYWORD1:
immunization registries
vaccine providers

BACKGROUND:
Immunization registries are viewed as important tools to track individual, community, and statewide immunization rates, and to consolidate immunization records for children who receive vaccines at multiple sites. For immunization registries to be effective in this role, participation is needed among all vaccine providers. However, in many states, private providers have been reluctant to participate in immunization registries.

OBJECTIVE:
To understand private provider attitudes and preferences with regard to statewide immunization registries.

METHOD:
Mailed surveys were distributed to physicians at VFC-participating private practices in a sample of states. Michigan was oversampled, to allow reliable state-level information. Different surveys were mailed to registry participants vs non-participants, based on participant lists from registry officials.

RESULT:
Preliminary results from Michigan demonstrate that 90% of physicians reported their practice's registry participation status as consistent with state registry records. Most physicians reported that they use the registry to input data (88%) and review records (81%); only 19% use it for reminder/recall, and 30% to assess practice immunization coverage. The strongest influence on physician participation was the state mandate (56%), followed by the need to consolidate records from multiple sites (55%). Only 14% of physicians reported that cost/time were a significant problem, while 16% felt that data inaccuracy/incompleteness was a significant problem. Among non-participants, the primary reasons for non-participation were staff time/cost to participate, incompatibility with office computers, and small number of pediatric patients. Further analyses will explore the extent to which physician participation in other states is consistent with these results.

CONCLUSION:
Most immunization registry participants in Michigan report active participation with few problems. State mandates may be the most effective tool to encourage participation. However, non-participants continue to report known barriers to participation.
LEARNINGOBJECTIVES:
To improve understanding of physician factors related to participation in immunization registries.