Significance of electronic health records: A comparative study of vaccination rates in patients with sickle cell disease

Objective: In this study, we investigated the influence of electronic health records (EHR) and electronic vaccination schedule applications on the vaccination status of patients who were admitted to our Center for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods: The vaccination status against influenza and pneumococcus infection was determined in 93 patients who were admitted to the hematology outpatient clinic, Baskent University Adana Hospital from April 2004 to March 2009. The vaccination status was then re-evaluated following establishment of EHR and electronic vaccination schedules in 2012. Results: Of the 93 patients with SCD 21.5% (n=20) were vaccinated against pneumococcus and 21.5% (n=20) were regularly vaccinated against influenza. When the vaccination rates of 59 of 93 patients who presented for their regular control examinations were analyzed following establishment of EHR and vaccination schedules in 2012, these rates were 49.2% (n=29) and 50.8% (n=30) for influenza and pneumococcus, respectively, after EHR; there were 23.7% (n=14) and 20.3% (n=12), respectively, before EHR. A statistically significant difference was found between the vaccination rates before and after EHR (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although viral and bacterial infections are life-threatening health problems in patients with SCD, the vaccination rates were low in high-risk patients. However, these rates increased after application of electronic vaccination schedules.