How OB/GYNs Perceive Their Role with Vaccinations

Background:
The practice patterns and opinions of OB/GYNs regarding vaccines have been assessed in a variety of quantitative studies. Research has examined their behavior and opinions about specific vaccines, vaccinating specific populations, and of the impact national recommendations have on their decision to immunize.
While OB/GYNs have the opportunity and the ability to educate and vaccinate the women that they serve, their perceptions about providing immunizations to their patients remains unclear. Although quantitative research suggests that most OB/GYNs view vaccine provision as within their scope of work, lacking are qualitative insights into how OB/GYNs perceive and experience patient immunization and immunization programs. This research sought to gain insight into OB/GYNs perceptions about the meanings, roles, and responsibilities associated with immunization education and provision.

Objectives:
To describe the perceptions and experiences of OB/GYNs regarding their role in providing patient education about immunizations and administering vaccines.
To identify the meaning OB/GYNs assign to the practice of immunizing and the influences that have impacted their adolescent and adult immunization practices.

Methods:
The researcher conducted in-depth, open-ended interviews with a purposive sample of practicing OB/GYNs who reside and practice in North Carolina. The sample included those that offered no, some, and multiple vaccines.

Results:
The researcher will present data on OB/GYN attitudes and practices related to vaccine-preventable disease that will aid in determining how well adolescent and adult immunization services can be adopted, expanded, and improved within this setting.

Conclusions:
Study findings offer strategies for how health educators can best develop effective outreach programs that will encourage the expansion of vaccination services among OB/GYNs. Findings also inform the development of strategies that can change practice patterns so that more OB/GYNs educate their patients about and offer vaccines, thereby protecting the women they serve against a greater variety of diseases.