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PURPOSE We offered a practice facilitation intervention to family physicians in Ontario, Canada, known to have large numbers of patients not yet vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS We conducted a multimethod process evaluation embedded within a randomized controlled trial (clinical trial #NCT05099497). We collected descriptive statistics regarding engagement and qualitative interview data from family physicians and practice facilitators, as well as data from facilitator field notes. We analyzed and triangulated the data using thematic analysis and mapped barriers to and enablers for implementation to structural, organizational, physician, and patient factors. RESULTS Of the 300 approached, 90 family physicians (30%) accepted facilitation. Of these, 57% received technical support to identify unvaccinated patients, 29% used trained medical student volunteers to contact patients on their behalf, and 30% used automated calling to reach patients. Key factors affecting engagement with the intervention were staff shortages owing to COVID-19 (structural), clinic characteristics such as technical issues and gatekeeping by staff, which prevented facilitators from talking with physicians (organizational), burnout (physician), and specialized populations that required targeted resources (patient). The facilitator's ability to address technical issues and connect family physicians with medical students helped with engagement. CONCLUSIONS Strategies to help underresourced family physicians serving high- needs populations for issues of public health importance, such as vaccine promotion, must acknowledge the scarcity of physicians' time and provide new resources. To successfully engage family physicians, practice facilitators should seek to build trust and relationships over time, including with front-office staff. Key words: practice facilitation; vaccines; COVID-19; process evaluation, INTRODUCTION Many Canadians consider family physicians to be their most trusted source of vaccine information, (1,2) underscoring the important role family doctors play in encouraging vaccine uptake, addressing hesitancies, and [...]

Participatory research has been foundational to the values of NAPCRG. The document, 'Responsible Research with Communities: Participatory Research in Primary Care,' (1) together with the recommendations for NAPCRG, was adopted [...]

Context: One way to build vaccine confidence is through advice from a trusted health professional, like a family physician. We implemented and evaluated a practice facilitation intervention in partnership with Ontario Health, a provincial government agency, to support the family physicians in Ontario known to have the largest number of unvaccinated patients. Objective: To understand how and why this intervention offered to family physicians most in need was used and to identify opportunities to adapt this targeted approach for other aspects of primary care. Study Design and Analysis: This was a qualitative process evaluation embedded within a randomized trial. Data were analyzed using inductive and deductive techniques informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework. Setting or Dataset: Data was collected through interviews with participating and non-participating family physicians, as well as from practice facilitator field notes. Population Studied: Family physicians with the largest number of unvaccinated patients in the province. Intervention/Instrument: Practice facilitators offered physicians support to identify, reach out, and counsel their unvaccinated patients. Outcome Measures: N/A Results: Of the 300 physicians randomized to the intervention, 29% accepted support. Among those who received facilitation, 58% used technical support to identify unvaccinated patients, 29% were linked with medical student volunteers to contact patients on their behalf, and 31% used automated calling to reach patients. The main barriers encountered were: a) gatekeeping from the front-office staff, which prevented the practice facilitator from contacting the physician, b) inability to dedicate extra time, c) technical issues with identifying patients requiring vaccines, and d) belief that outreach to patients would not result in more vaccinations. Facilitators were: a) clinics that had support staff, especially a tech-savvy workforce, b) physician, or the team passionate about COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and therefore willing to prioritize time or resources to outreach, and c) the belief that COVID-19 vaccine uptake was part of their role as a family physician. Conclusion: Strategies to help family physicians regarding vaccine rollout or other primary care areas of public health import must acknowledge the scarcity of time and resources of these physicians, and seek to build trust and relationships over time, including the front-office staff., Presenters Jennifer Shuldiner, PhD, Dominik Nowak, Noah Ivers, MD, PhD, CCFP, Aisha Lofters, MD, Tara Kiran, MD, MSc, CCFP, FCFP, David Kaplan, MD, CCFP, FCFP, MSc, Monica Taljaard, PhD, Michael [...]