Precision Vaccine Promotion in Underserved Populations

University of Southern California

Status: Completed

Conditions: Influenza; Vaccine Hesitancy

Treatments: Behavioral: Text messaging

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT05537441

HS-22-00479

P30AG024968 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Previous studies have shown that low-cost, behavioral nudges through texting can increase influenza vaccination uptake compared to usual care. However, there are limited studies that evaluate the effect of decreasing barriers to scheduling, especially within safety net populations. The setting for this study, DHS, is the second largest public delivery system in the country and serves approximately half a million diverse patients that are eligible for vaccinations annually. This pilot study (one arm in a larger randomized controlled trial) will examine the effect of text messages highlighting MediCal health plan transportation resources (vs standard text messaging) on influenza vaccination rates in adults during the 2022-2023 flu season.

Enrollment: 228,831 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6+ months old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LACDHS) primary care patients over 6 months of age

Exclusion criteria

• LACDHS patients less than 6 months of age

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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228,831 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard Texts

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients randomized to this study arm will receive a standard text reminding them about the importance of influenza vaccination. The standard texts will include a clinic call back number and patient portal self-scheduling for patients to schedule their influenza vaccines: #FirstName#, your flu shot is ready! Call your clinic at #ExternalRefNo# or visit the LA Health Portal at http://bit.ly/BookFluShot if you want this shot held for you.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Text messaging

Standard Texts with Transportation messaging

Experimental group

Description:

Patients randomized to this study arm will receive standard texts plus transportation messaging including a phone number for patients to reserve transportation to a vaccination appointment based on MediCal health plan transportation resources: #FirstName#, your flu shot is ready! Call your clinic at #ExternalRefNo# or visit the LA Health Portal at http://bit.ly/BookFluShot if you want this shot held for you. You can call #Health Plan Phone Number# to schedule a free ride for your flu shot through #HealthPlanName#.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Text messaging