Immunization Information Systems National Research and Evaluation Agenda

Abstract

In Brief Immunization Information Systems (IIS) are operational in most states and are useful in programmatic and clinical assessments. To ensure that IIS reach their technical and usability potential, and to promote their use, we conducted a Delphi survey to develop a national IIS research and evaluation agenda. Experts with a wide range of IIS knowledge were asked to generate research and evaluation topics that document their utility in achieving and sustaining clinical and public health goals. Topics were then collated by the authors into 13 main categories and were ranked by the survey experts in order of importance. Provider perspectives and needs was ranked as the top research priority. Both data quality and technical data exchange also ranked high, as well as increasing provider participation and IIS cost and cost savings. Lower-ranked research priorities included data sharing between states and factors affecting IIS population-based measurements. Development of an IIS research and evaluation agenda allows policy makers to ensure that their decisions coincide with expert views on national priorities and enables researchers to conduct studies addressing topics recognized as nationally important. It also allows for targeted funding decisions. This article presents results from a Delphi survey to develop a national Immunization Information Systems research and evaluation agenda comprising members of the AIRA and CDC, and shows how such an agenda can ensure that the decisions made by policy makers coincide with expert consensus on national priorities and enable researchers to conduct studies addressing topics recognized as nationally important.