Background. The field of immunizations has grown in recent years with the introduction of new vaccines for adolescents and adults. Despite these advances, adolescents and adults are often under-immunized and may be susceptible to the effects of harmful diseases. A need exists to expand venues in which adolescents and adults can receive vaccines, and to educate health care providers about the existence and importance of administering immunizations to these age groups. In particular, obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) are in a unique position to make a significant impact on immunization education and vaccination rates for women of all ages. Yet, researchers know little about their vaccination practices and opinions about immunizations.;Objective. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how obstetrician-gynecologists perceived and defined their role in immunization and vaccine administration, including providing patient education about immunizations. In addition, the researcher was interested in identifying the meaning that study participants' derived from the practice of immunizing and the influences that have impacted their adolescent and adult immunization practices.;Methods. To achieve this purpose, the researcher conducted in-depth, open-ended interviews with 13 OB/GYNs in North Carolina. A qualitative methodology using a phenomenological approach enabled the researcher to better understand participants' immunization-related beliefs, perspectives, and behaviors related to their role in providing patient education and administering vaccines. Analysis of verbatim transcriptions of the interviews involved immersion, coding, categorizing, and identifying themes that emerged from the data.;Results. While the participants in this study were willing to educate their patients about vaccines, their view of their role in terms of vaccination and primary care varied by provider. Four themes emerged from the data in this study that related to the participants' experiences with immunizations: the vaccination experience, role inconsistency, multiple barriers to providing immunizations, and the decision to immunize. The data also provided a rich description of the meanings that study participants derived from the practice of immunizing and the influences that impacted their immunization decisions.;Conclusions. Health educators and other public health professionals can use the data collected during the course of this study to determine possible strategies for adopting, expanding and improving adolescent and adult immunization services among OB/GYNs. Insights gleaned from study findings may, in time, lead to the immunization of greater proportions of female adolescents and adults and reduced morbidity and mortality associated with vaccine-preventable diseases within these populations.
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