P141 FluCare: Improving flu vaccination rates in care home staff: A cluster randomised controlled trial

• Published in: Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) 2023-08, Vol.77 (Suppl 1), p.A116-A116
• Main Authors: Sims, Erika, Patel, Amrish, Sion, Scott, Clark, Allan, Wagner, Adam, Holland, Richard, Bion, Veronica, Pitcher, Jennifer, Birt, Linda, Wright, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coefficient of variation; Correlation coefficient; COVID-19 vaccines; Data collection; Immunization; Influenza; Local government; Older people; Pandemics; Pharmacists; Public health; Vaccination
• ISSN: 0143-005X; 1470-2738
• DOI: 10.1136/jech-2023-SSMabstracts.242

BackgroundThe World Health Organization recommends that >75% of health/social care staff are vaccinated for flu. This target was met for healthcare staff in England during 2020–21; however, despite the COVID pandemic, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Capacity Tracker only reported 34% of care home staff as vaccinated.AimUndertake a two arm, open label, cluster randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of FluCare, a behaviour change intervention designed to improve uptake of influenza vaccination by care home staff, compared to usual care, with embedded process evaluation.SettingCommunity based private, charity, corporate or local authority care homes (residential or nursing) in England.MethodsCare homes registered to provide care for older adults, with at least 10 members of staff and a staff flu vaccination rate 70% staff vaccinated) or usual care. Care homes identified their preferred GP/pharmacy, who were invited to participate. Care homes maintained a vaccination log which was submitted to the research team monthly. A vaccination log was completed by GPs/Pharmacies after each clinic.Sample SizeBased on the assumptions that mean (standard deviation) cluster (care home) size is 54 staff (25), a coefficient of variation of 0.48, control vaccination rate is 55% (assumed higher than the historical rate as COVID has increased interest in vaccination), intervention 75%, intra-cluster correlation coefficient of 0.2 and with 90% power, we require 31 care homes per arm at two tailed 5% level of significance (62 total). Allowing for 20% attrition, 78 homes were required.ResultsSeventynine care homes were recruited, 75 randomised, 37 to intervention and 38 to control. To date, 27 care homes have been paired with vaccination providers. 28 staff focused flu vaccination clinics have been held and more are planned. Follow-up data collection is ongoing and will end 31st March 2023. Process evaluation is ongoing.ConclusionAt the time of abstract submission the trial is ongoing. Findings are due August 2023 and will be presented at the meeting.FunderFluCare is funded by the NIHR Public Health Research (NIHR133455). The views expr