Intervention
PCP, FLU, INFLUENZA
In this experiment, PCPs working in the intervention health centres were asked to proactively recommend influenza vaccination to their patients who were aged 60 and above during their routine work and during their patients’ visits. PCPs working in the control health centres did not provide influenza vaccination recommendations for their patients. The intervention process is described as follows: when a patient visits an intervention health centre for any reason, PCPs would assess that patient’s health conditions and determine whether that patient is qualified to be vaccinated against influenza. If qualified, PCPs would make prescription forms, explain the necessity of vaccination and recommend that patient get vaccinated. If that patient agrees to be vaccinated, he/she will take the vaccine in the reserved time; if that patient does not agree to be vaccinated at that moment, he/she could keep the prescription forms in case they change their mind. The detailed standardized influenza vaccination recommendation procedure is shown in Fig. Flow chart of influenza vaccination recommendation routine by primary care physicians in community health centres in Shenzhen, ChinaAll PCPs from the intervention health centres received brief training about this standardized influenza vaccination recommendation process and were asked to offer influenza vaccination recommendations to their older patients in their daily work. PCPs from the control group did not receive such training. The intervention study period was during the 2017–2018 flu season (October 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018). The 2016–2017 flu season (October 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017) was considered as the baseline comparison. Older adults who: (1) were aged 60 years and above during the intervention; (2) had household registration and basic medical insurance; and (3) were qualified to have an extremely low risk of leading to severe health conditions based on medical history, were qualified for the free influenza vaccination program as the target of PCP recommendation.