1. A comparative analysis of vaccine administration in urban and non-urban skilled nursing facilities.
- Author
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Pu Y, Dolar V, and Gucwa AL
- Subjects
- Aged, Female, Humans, Influenza, Human epidemiology, Long-Term Care methods, Long-Term Care organization & administration, Male, Medicare statistics & numerical data, Pneumonia, Pneumococcal epidemiology, Quality Improvement, United States epidemiology, Vaccination methods, Healthcare Disparities statistics & numerical data, Influenza Vaccines therapeutic use, Influenza, Human prevention & control, Nursing Homes organization & administration, Nursing Homes statistics & numerical data, Pneumococcal Vaccines therapeutic use, Pneumonia, Pneumococcal prevention & control, Skilled Nursing Facilities organization & administration, Skilled Nursing Facilities statistics & numerical data, Suburban Health Services standards, Suburban Health Services statistics & numerical data, Urban Health Services standards, Urban Health Services statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Background: The U.S. population is aging at an unprecedented rate, resulting in an increased demand for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and long-term care. Residents of these facilities are at a high risk for pneumococcal disease or severe influenza-related illnesses and death. For these reasons, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services use influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates as a quality measure in the assessment of SNFs, as complications related to these infections increase morbidity and mortality rates., Methods: Disparities have been reported amongst vaccination with increased rates in urban areas as compared to their non-urban counterparts. Statistical analyses were performed to compare influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in urban and non-urban SNFs to determine variables that may influence vaccination status., Results: Of the 15,639 nursing homes included in the study, 10,107 were in urban areas, while 5532 were considered non-urban. We found the percent of eligible and willing residents with up-to-date influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations increased with overall five-star ratings of SNFs. Somewhat paradoxically, although urban SNFs had higher mean overall five-star ratings, they showed lower rates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination compared to non-urban SNFs. Ordinary least squares regression analysis comparing overall ratings, type of ownership, and geographic location by region yielded statistically significant results in which the overall rating, ownership-type and certificate-type favored urban SNFs (pā<ā0.001)., Conclusions: This is the first systematic and comparative analysis to use the Nursing Home Compare database to assess vaccine administration of urban and non-urban SNFs. The findings of this study may be used to encourage the development of programs to improve vaccination rates and the quality of care in these facilities.
- Published
- 2016
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