A HANDOUT ABOUT TETANUS IMMUNIZATION - INFLUENCE ON IMMUNIZATION RATE IN GENERAL-PRACTICE

Objective - To assess the influence of giving patients a handout about tetanus immunisation on the rate of immunisation against tetanus among adults in a general practice. Design - Monthly tetanus immunisation rates were audited before and after the handout was introduced. Setting - A practice with six doctors and a list of 11,000 patients in an urban area of Hertfordshire. Interventions - In the first month reception staff were instructed to give a handout about tetanus immunisation to all adults presenting at the reception desk. In the next seven months the doctors used the handouts opportunistically during consultations. Results - No significant change in immunisation rate was detected in the first month in which the handouts were used. During the next seven months the median monthly rate rose threefold. Conclusion - Handouts given to patients can increase the uptake of preventive services in general practice.