Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine Reminder Systems

Kaiser Permanente

Status: Completed

Conditions: Asthma; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Treatments: Behavioral: Postcard and IVR Reminder Group; Behavioral: IVR Only Reminder Group; Behavioral: Postcard Only Reminder Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01852656

12010936

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 12,255 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19 to 64 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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12,255 participants in 3 patient groups

Postcard Only Reminder Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

In the postcard reminder intervention, the member will receive a single postcard, addressed to the member with asthma or COPD.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Postcard Only Reminder Group

IVR Only Reminder Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

In the IVR reminder intervention, targeted members will be contacted by the interactive voice response system

Treatment:

Behavioral: IVR Only Reminder Group

Postcard and IVR Reminder Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

In this group, individuals will receive both a postcard reminder and an IVR reminder.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Postcard and IVR Reminder Group