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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01852656

Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine Reminder Systems

Influenza disease causes significant morbidity and mortality in the Unites States each year. Although influenza can cause morbidity in otherwise healthy individuals, adults with chronic lung disease have significantly increased rates of hospitalization from influenza-related illnesses compared to healthy adults. Influenza vaccination is the primary means of preventing influenza disease. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all individuals 6 months of age and older in the United States. Influenza vaccination rates are sub-optimal, however. Patient reminder/recall has been shown, in multiple studies across a variety of age groups and health conditions, to increase immunization rates. However, the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different types of reminder/recall has not been well-studied, particularly in adults. In the fall of 2012, the Population and Prevention Services (PPS) Department at Kaiser Permanente Colorado (KPCO) is using 3 different reminder strategies for influenza vaccination among adults with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study is to provide a rigorous evaluation of which strategy is more effective and more cost-effective, to promote influenza vaccination.

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Key information

Conditions

Asthma Bronchial Diseases Chronic Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Disease Attributes Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity, Immediate Immune System Diseases Infections Influenza, Human Lung Diseases Lung Diseases, Obstructive Orthomyxoviridae Infections Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive RNA Virus Infections Respiratory Hypersensitivity Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Virus Diseases

Age range

19 year–64 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kaiser Permanente Colorado

Denver, Colorado, 80237, United States

About this study

At KPCO, postcards are typically sent to members each fall, to remind members to receive their annual influenza vaccine. At KPCO, interactive voice response (IVR) systems have been utilized for a number of prevention reminders, but have not in the past been used for influenza vaccination reminders. For the 2012-2013 influenza season, the PPS department is going to send three different types of reminders to their adult patients with certain chronic lung diseases (specifically, adults with asthma and COPD): postcards only; IVR reminders only; postcards plus IVR reminders. This study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness, of an already-finalized operational plan for influenza reminders.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 19 to 64 years
  • Enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Colorado health plan
  • Diagnosis of asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Exclusion criteria

  • Subjects living in households with other individuals in high-risk categories for influenza morbidity

Treatment and study plan

Postcard and IVR Reminder Group

Behavioral

IVR: Subjects in this reminder group will receive an automated telephone call to their primary telephone number. A total of 2 call attempts per member will be made. The IVR system will provide a message about the importance of annual influenza vaccination. The member can also request additional information about influenza vaccination and influenza vaccination locations and times.

Postcard: The postcard will be sent as a single postcard to each individual on the list. The postcard will be sent to the home address of the member. If the postcard is returned, the postcard will not be re-sent. The postcard does not identify that the member has a chronic health condition such as asthma or COPD. The postcard will be mailed during the last two weeks of September, 2012.

Postcard Only Reminder Group

Behavioral

Postcard: The postcard will be sent as a single postcard to each individual on the list. The postcard will be sent to the home address of the member. If the postcard is returned, due to an inaccurate address, the postcard will not be re-sent. The postcard does not identify that the member has a chronic health condition such as asthma or COPD. The postcard will be mailed during the last two weeks of September, 2012.

IVR Only Reminder Group

Behavioral

IVR: Subjects in this reminder group will receive an automated telephone call to their primary telephone number. A total of 2 call attempts per member will be made. The IVR system will provide a message about the importance of annual influenza vaccination. The member can also request additional information about influenza vaccination and influenza vaccination locations and times.

Primary outcomes

  1. Receipt of influenza vaccine

    Time frame: up to 7 months

    The 2012-2013 influenza season, defined as October to April.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Total unit cost per outreach method

    Time frame: up to 10 months

    The time in months to develop, plan, and implement the intervention arms, as a function of cost.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kaiser Permanente

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effectiveness and Cost of Different Methods of Reminders for Annual Influenza Immunization Among Adults With Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2013
Study completion
2013
First posted
May 14, 2013
Registry last updated
May 14, 2013

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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