'increasing seasonal influenza vaccination coverage rates in nurses working at Hacettepe University adult, pediatric and oncology hospitals: A quality improvement project

Despite all the scientific evidence and recommendations for healthcare workers to be vaccinated with influenza vaccination at the beginning of each influenza season, influenza vaccination coverage rates among healthcare workers are quite low. In our study, conducted in a large tertiary care university hospital, the aim was to increase the influenza vaccination coverage rates among nurses through interdisciplinary teamled quality improvement measures. For the current situation analysis, the process mapping method, vaccination data from the past four influenza seasons, and a survey incorporating the Health Belief Model for Influenza Prevention were used. Based on the data obtained from the situation analysis, the reasons for the low vaccination coverage were discussed using the brainstorming method, and the identified reasons were placed on a fishbone diagram. Through the nominal group technique, root causes were identified among the determined reasons. Solution suggestions for the root causes were collected from each team member, and the most appropriate solution suggestions were determined through effectiveness analysis. A multi-component improvement process was planned including mobile vaccination, reminders, vaccination campaign including communication and education strategies, encouragement with role model and manager inoculations, a formal institutional process for personnel vaccination and a letter to the Ministry of Health by the hospital management regarding the delay and deficiency in the vaccine supply, which is our main root cause. However, improvement steps could not be implemented as vaccine supply could not be provided by the Ministry of Health in the 2022-2023 flu season. Key Words: influenza, vaccination, healthcare worker, quality improvement