Immunization Information and Population Data Sources: The Information Needs of Public Health Practitioners

摘要

Immunizations are an important component of the preventive services provided, managed and promoted by public health. The need to understand the information behaviors of public health practitioners related to immunizations has become more acute as health policy changes encourage the exchange of individual level immunization data between electronic health record (EHR) systems and Immunization Information Systems (IISs). We sought to further that understanding by conducting a series of interviews focused on information needs related to immunization administration and immunization data in Washington State. Interviews were conducted with public health practitioners who represented a variety of roles in local health jurisdictions. Following transcription, interviews were coded using qualitative data analysis software. Here, we will report on the thematic analysis of the interviews and preliminary interpretations and implications of our inquiry.