Increasing Primary Care Provider Understanding of the MMR Vaccine

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase understanding of the MMR vaccine among primary care providers. By doing so, there would hopefully be a reduction in vaccine hesitancy. Background: Rates of immunizing against MMR continue to decline. In 2000, rates of measles in the United States were deemed eliminated. Unfortunately, due to a decrease in vaccinating children, measles has been more prominent. This comes from the notion that has quickly spread that vaccines are harmful to children and contain toxic ingredients. In order to reduce further risk of measles outbreaks, patients and families need to be educated on the risks and benefits of vaccinating. To accomplish this, providers need to first be properly educated. By doing so, primary care providers will have the knowledge and confidence to engage in this controversial topic with all patients. Methods: A pretest and posttest survey was presented to four primary care providers within MedPeds Associates of Sarasota, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Clinic. Two of the providers are physicians, the other two are family nurse practitioners. An intervention took place between the two surveys, consisting of a 15-minute educational PowerPoint. Scores were analyzed following the study using descriptive analysis. Results: From pretest to posttest, each of the four providers improved their scores. Each provider made comment that they had learned from the educational module and thought it had enhanced their knowledge as a provider. Conclusion: Based on the findings from the pretest and posttest surveys it is inferred that an educational intervention module was effective in increasing primary care provider understanding of the MMR vaccine.