2188. A Quality Improvement Initiative for Influenza Diagnosis and Treatment within Health Systems Serving American Indian/Alaskan Native Patients


 
 
 This project aimed to identify practices, knowledge and confidence in diagnosing and treating influenza in health systems serving American Indian/Alaskan Native communities and to provide education to support alignment with IDSA guidelines.
 
 
 
 Anonymous baseline surveys were completed electronically by healthcare professionals (HCPs) from Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board’s teleECHO program. Responses informed a 2-part series of live virtual educational trainings featuring pre- and post-program surveys and team-based action planning.
 
 
 
 Baseline surveys were completed by 247 HCPs. 149 attended the 1st meeting, and 90 attended the 2nd. For outpatient influenza diagnosis, 72% of baseline survey respondents reported primarily using rapid antigen testing, and 11% reported using molecular testing. Similarly, 15% of learners in the live meetings correctly identified rapid molecular assay as the guideline-recommended test, which improved to 72% afterwards. All 9 CNHS outpatient health centers switched from rapid antigen to molecular testing for influenza diagnosis after the training. Influenza treatment decision-making was assessed using a case vignette. For a patient at high risk for complications with flu-like symptoms but stable for outpatient care, 23% of learners in the live meetings correctly chose to start antiviral treatment immediately, which improved to 54% after the program, and more learners felt confident applying diagnostic test results to treatment, from 31% before to 68% after the training. Learner confidence also improved from 19% feeling confident in selecting antiviral treatment and 33% feeling confident in identifying high risk patients before the program to 60% and 70% afterwards, respectively. Action plans prioritized by the HCPs included: patient engagement (61%), reviewing guidelines and data (57%), improving patient adherence to treatment (50%), and developing criteria for immediate antiviral treatment (50%).
 
 
 
 Knowledge and confidence in influenza management improved after the training, as did system-wide alignment with IDSA-recommended diagnostic testing. Studies evaluating the clinical impact of this activity is warranted.
 
 
 
 Jorge Mera, MD, FACP, Abbvie: Grant/Research Support|Gilead Sciences: Grant/Research Support|Gilead Sciences: Received one time honorarium for participating as a panelist in a COVID-19 Webinar|Merck: Grant/Research Support.
