Physician-focused intervention
asplenia, infections
ASPLENIA, INFECTIONS
The physician-focused telephone intervention comprises evidence-based information concerning asplenia and the associated infections risks. Physicians are provided with both general information regarding recommended vaccinations in asplenic patients and tailored vaccination plans for the patient in question. Additionally, an introduction to the medical alert card is offered and necessity and feasibility of stand-by antibiotics are discussed. Although being primarily information-centered, the intervention includes motivational aspects, too, by highlighting the efficacy of preventive measures in averting PSS. Physicians who did not respond to the invitation letter and physicians of control group patients were contacted by telephone, and a short consultation was carried out in order to deliver the critical information regarding the patient at hand. In these cases, general information regarding asplenia was not included.Manuals for both patient- and physician-focused interventions as well as a template for the medical alert card are provided in the supplement.