A multi-faceted knowledge translation intervention - The CARD (C-Comfort, A-Ask, R-Relax, D-Distract) System - was developed to improve the vaccination experience of students at school. CARD is a framework for delivering vaccinations that is student-centred that promotes coping. This study will examine the feasibility of CARD implementation procedures and measures in the school vaccination program in Calgary, Alberta for use in a larger cluster trial.
Vaccination is estimated to have saved more lives in Canada over the last 50 years than any other single intervention and is considered one of the most important advances in the prevention of disease. One major drawback of vaccination, however, is that the usual route of administration involves a painful needle injection. In students undergoing school-based mass vaccinations, vaccine injections frequently cause sever distress and fainting, with some serious injuries resulting from fainting. Concerns about pain and/or needle fear are also directly responsible for vaccine refusal in this population. An evidence based clinical practice guideline for mitigating vaccine injection pain, fear and fainting has been developed, however, it is not yet implemented across different school-based vaccination settings and students are not benefiting from the research evidence. In a prior small-scale project, investigators developed and implemented a multi-faceted knowledge translation intervention - The CARD (C-Comfort, A-Ask, R-Relax, D-Distract) System - in some schools in a small public health region in Niagara, Ontario. CARD is a framework for delivering vaccinations that is student-centred and promotes coping. It integrates recommendations from the guideline in two separate components of the vaccination delivery program: 1) pre-vaccination day preparation, and 2) vaccination day activities. Investigators found preliminary evidence of acceptability, appropriateness, satisfaction and clinical effectiveness of CARD when used in grade 7 students in Niagara. In this study, investigators plan to determine the feasibility of implementing CARD in a diverse and more complex public health region in Calgary, Alberta. Specifically, investigators will determine recruitment rates, adherence to CARD protocol, response rates for questionnaires, acceptability, appropriateness (fit), and satisfaction. The results will inform a future cluster trial.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
260
The intervention consists of education of relevant stakeholders of best practices and integration of best practices into the vaccination delivery program
Alberta Health Services Public Health - Calgary Zone
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
RECRUITINGpercent complete data for student symptom survey
proportion of students that fill in questionnaire about their symptoms (fear, dizziness, pain) during vaccination
Time frame: within 5 minutes after vaccination
percent complete data for nurse feedback form
proportion of immunizers that fill in questionnaire about interventions used during immunization (e.g., privacy, distraction)
Time frame: within 5 minutes after vaccination
percent of schools recruited
proportion of schools that participate in the study
Time frame: within 1 week of school vaccination clinic
percent compliance with CARD (intervention)
proportion of adherence to components of CARD protocol as assessed by CARD implementers using a self-reported checklist. This information will be supplemented with information from focus groups with implementers and study notes, as well as focus groups with other stakeholder groups (students, parents, school staff).
Time frame: within 3 months after vaccination
perceived quality of CARD (intervention) program delivery
perceptions of quality of CARD program delivery as reported by CARD implementers (primary targets) using the CARD Global Impression Checklist, individual quality questions (5-point likert scale, higher number represents better outcome). This information will be supplemented with information from focus groups with implementers and study notes, as well as focus groups with other stakeholder groups (secondary targets - school staff, students, parents).
Time frame: within 3 months after vaccination
perceived acceptability of CARD (intervention)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
perception of acceptability (satisfaction with CARD) by CARD implementers (primary targets) using the CARD Global Impression Checklist, individual acceptability questions (5-point likert scale, higher number represents better outcome). This information will be supplemented with information from focus groups with implementers and study notes, as well as focus groups with other stakeholder groups (secondary targets - school staff, students, parents).
Time frame: within 3 months after vaccination