BACKGROUND:
Many local health departments' preparedness plans include mass vaccination clinics. A live satellite broadcast aired March 18, 2004 for public health staff implementing vaccination clinics, responsible for BT threats and/or influenza pandemics, and anyone working in health and public safety. It featured a panel of public health specialists with experience in mass vaccination clinics. The program was co-sponsored by the CDC and CA DHS Immunization Branch, and produced by California Distance Learning Health Network. The broadcast was evaluated using traditional and non-traditional methods, and viewers were evaluated for both change in knowledge and behavior.

OBJECTIVE:
Evaluate for knowledge and behavior
Determine the usability of the program content
Provide suggestions for future satellite broadcasts

METHOD:
Typically only paper-based evaluations are used. Knowledge and behavior change typically are not evaluated. Using a stratified sample of viewers, participants completed both paper-based and web-based evaluations.

RESULT:
The mean knowledge scores increased. At the 6-week follow-up, 57% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they had used knowledge or advice acquired from the broadcast. Almost all used or planned to use broadcast information suggesting the broadcast was informative and helpful. Use of knowledge or advice was higher among viewers whose jobs involved bioterrorism response or immunization program activities.

CONCLUSION:
The majority of viewers used information to enhance their local efforts in planning mass vaccination clinics.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Describe typical evaluation methods for broadcasts
Describe the web-based survey
Identify important post-test and follow-up findings
List several reported uses of broadcast information at the 6 week follow-up