Electronic temperature monitoring and feedback to correct adverse vaccine storage in general practice

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of direct feedback of temperature conditions followed by a telephone educational questionnaire to correct adverse vaccine storage, and to determine the consistency of vaccine storage conditions at provider sites over six months.

Participants: 32 general practitioner vaccine providers in metropolitan Adelaide.

Design: Temperatures were monitored for 14 days using electronic temperature monitors, with repeat monitoring at two and six months. Feedback was given to vaccine providers and an educational questionnaire was administered after initial monitoring.

Main outcome measure: Number of sites with more than 20% of recordings < 2 degrees C or > 8 degrees C and/or more than 5% of recordings < 0 degree C or > 15 degrees C.

Results: 13 (41%) sites had initially suboptimal storage. Following the interventions, storage was corrected in all but three (23%) of these sites. Only 10 (52%) of the 19 initially optimal sites had consistent optimal storage at two and six months.

Conclusion: Electronic monitoring with direct feedback of storage temperatures was effective in correcting adverse storage at most suboptimal sites. Vaccine storage at initially optimal sites was not consistent. Our findings have important implications for further research and public health measures aimed at correcting and maintaining optimal vaccine storage.