# Informing Immunization Strategies Through Rapid, Repeated Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing Instruments and Online Panels of Physicians and the Public

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2020 · $499,999

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Suboptimal vaccination rates and the constantly shifting vaccine landscape resulting from changing vaccine
recommendations; the development of novel vaccines or vaccine technologies; “vaccine scares”; and
outbreaks from vaccine preventable diseases means organizations that are responsible for creating vaccine
recommendations, policies, etc. need information about health care providers and the general public to inform
their decision-making by anticipating possible reactions to their efforts in these groups.
Sentinel physician networks—pre-recruited groups of physicians—have been the predominant method for
obtaining this information since 2004 but suffer from major methodological weaknesses: 1) repeatedly
surveying a potentially biased set of respondents, months-long data collection, and inflexibility beyond
established sentinel physician networks. As a result, there is a critical need to utilize new survey
methodologies that has similar speed, costs, and representativeness as sentinel physician networks but
overcomes its weaknesses. Without this knowledge, we will continue to collect information on immunization-
related issues using a method that is potentially biased and lacks the speed and flexibility that CDC needs.
The long-term goal of this proposal is to establish a new methodology for collecting data on immunization
issues that provides this information more quickly, affordably, flexibly, and arguably more representative than
sentinel physician networks. The overall objective of this application is to recruit health care workers and
members of the general public via opt-in, online survey panels and use computer-assisted self-interviewing
(CASI) instruments to meet the information needs of CDC and other groups who make vaccine
recommendations, policies, and programs. To that end, our objectives for this proposal are listed below.
• Develop, revise, and finalize survey items within 4 weeks of identifying the survey topic
• Program the survey and conduct user testing within 2 weeks of survey items being finalized
• Obtain IRB approval from for each new survey within 2 weeks of submitting the IRB application
• Finish data collection for each survey in ≤3 weeks if surveying pediatricians, family physicians, general
 internists, and/or obstetricians-gynecologists (N=300/specialty), or U.S. adults (N=1,000)
• Finish data collection in ≤6 weeks if surveying other medical specialties (e.g., geriatricians)
• Analyze data within 3 weeks of finishing data collection
• Complete report of initial findings to the CDC within 4 weeks of finishing data collection
• Complete a minimum of 3 surveys of pediatricians, family physicians, & general internists each year
• Submit abstracts based on the survey results to at least 2 national or international conferences each year
• Submit 3 manuscripts based on survey results each year after Year 1
• Present requested results to ACIP and other immunization-related organizations, at their reque...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10114372
- **Project number:** 1U01IP001144-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Courtney Gidengil
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $499,999
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10114372

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10114372, Informing Immunization Strategies Through Rapid, Repeated Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing Instruments and Online Panels of Physicians and the Public (1U01IP001144-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10114372. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*