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Tuckerman J, Harper K, Sullivan TR, Cuthbert AR, Fereday J, Couper J, Smith N, Tai A, Kelly A, Couper R, Friswell M, Flood L, Blyth CC, Danchin M, Marshall HS. Short Message Service Reminder Nudge for Parents and Influenza Vaccination Uptake in Children and Adolescents With Special Risk Medical Conditions: The Flutext-4U Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr 2023; 177:337-344. [PMID: 36806893 PMCID: PMC9941970 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.6145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Importance Children with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk of severe influenza. Uptake of influenza vaccination in children and adolescents with these identified special risk medical conditions (SRMCs) is suboptimal. Objective To assess the effectiveness of Flutext-4U, a parent short message service (SMS) reminder nudge intervention, in increasing influenza immunization in children and adolescents with SRMCs. Design, Setting, and Participants This randomized clinical trial was conducted at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Adelaide, South Australia, from April 15 to September 30, 2021. Children and adolescents aged 6 months to younger than 18 years with SRMCs and a subspecialist outpatient appointment over a 5-month period during the Australian seasonal influenza vaccination season (April-August 2021) were eligible to participate. Follow-up was until September 30, 2021. Interventions Participants were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to control: clinician nudges (hospital vaccine availability, ease of access, and recommendation from hospital subspecialists) or SMS intervention (control conditions plus an additional SMS reminder nudge to parents), with randomization stratified by age group (<5 years, 5-14 years, or >14 to <18 years). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was influenza vaccination, as confirmed by the Australian Immunisation Register. Results A total of 600 participants (intervention group: 298 [49.7%]; mean [SD] age, 11.5 [4.6] years; 162 female participants [54.4%]; control group: 302 [50.3%]; mean [SD] age, 11.4 [4.7] years; 155 female participants [51.3%]) were included. Influenza vaccination was 38.6% (113 of 293) in the SMS intervention group compared with 26.2% (79 of 302) in the control group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.79; 95% CI, 1.27-2.55; P = .001). Time to vaccine receipt was significantly lower among SMS participants (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.25-2.22; P < .001). For participants randomly assigned by June 15, a significantly greater proportion receiving the SMS intervention were vaccinated during the optimal delivery period April to June 30 (SMS group: 40.0% [76 of 190] vs 25.4% [50 of 197]; aOR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.28-3.06; P = .002). Conclusions and Relevance Results of this randomized clinical trial suggest that an additional SMS reminder nudge for parents delivered in the tertiary care hospital setting to children and adolescents with SMRCs resulted in higher influenza vaccine uptake compared with clinician nudges alone. Trial Registration ANZCTR Identifier: ACTRN12621000463875.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Tuckerman
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Vaccine Uptake Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kelly Harper
- Women's and Children’s Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Thomas R. Sullivan
- SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alana R. Cuthbert
- SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer Fereday
- Women's and Children’s Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer Couper
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Women's and Children’s Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Nicholas Smith
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Women's and Children’s Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew Tai
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Women's and Children’s Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew Kelly
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Women's and Children’s Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Richard Couper
- Women's and Children’s Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Mark Friswell
- Women's and Children’s Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Louise Flood
- Communicable Disease Control Branch, South Australian Department of Health and Wellbeing, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Christopher C. Blyth
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, University Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Margie Danchin
- Vaccine Uptake Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of General Medicine, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Helen S. Marshall
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Women's and Children’s Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Tuckerman J, Harper K, Sullivan TR, Fereday J, Couper J, Smith N, Tai A, Kelly A, Couper R, Friswell M, Flood L, Danchin M, Blyth CC, Marshall H. Using provider-parent strategies to improve influenza vaccination in children and adolescents with special risk medical conditions: a randomised controlled trial protocol. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e053838. [PMID: 35144952 PMCID: PMC8845172 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Influenza immunisation is a highly cost-effective public health intervention. Despite a comprehensive National Immunisation Program, influenza vaccination in children and adolescents with special risk medical conditions (SRMCs) is suboptimal. Flutext-4U is an innovative, multi-component strategy targeting paediatric hospitals, general practice and parents of children and adolescents with SRMC. The Flutext-4U study aims to assess the impact of Flutext-4U to increase influenza immunisation in children and adolescents with SRMC. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a randomised controlled trial involving parents of children and adolescents (aged >6 months to <18 years) with SRMC receiving tertiary care at the Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH), Adelaide, South Australia, who are eligible for funded influenza immunisation with a hospital appointment between the start of the seasonal influenza vaccination season and 31 July 2021, their treating general practitioners (GPs), and WCH paediatric specialists.Parents (of children/adolescents with SRMC) are randomised (1:1 ratio) to standard care plus intervention (SMS reminder messages to parents; reminders (written correspondence) for their child's GP from the hospital's Paediatric Outpatients Department) or standard care (hospital vaccine availability, ease of access and reminders for WCH subspecialists) with randomisation stratified by age-group (<5, 5-14, >14 to <18 years).The primary outcome is influenza vaccination, as confirmed by the Australian Immunisation Register.The proportion vaccinated (primary outcome) will be compared between randomised groups using logistic regression, with adjustment made for age group at randomisation. The effect of treatment will be described using an OR with a 95% CI. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The protocol and all study materials have been reviewed and approved by the Women's and Children's Health Network Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/20/WCHN/5). Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publication and at scientific meetings, professional and public forums. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000463875).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Tuckerman
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Vaccine Uptake Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kelly Harper
- Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Thomas R Sullivan
- SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer Fereday
- Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer Couper
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Nicholas Smith
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew Tai
- Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew Kelly
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Richard Couper
- Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Mark Friswell
- Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Louise Flood
- Communicable Disease Control Branch, South Australian Department of Health and Wellbeing, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Margaret Danchin
- Vaccine Uptake Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of General Medicine, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher C Blyth
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, University Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Helen Marshall
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Tuckerman J, Crawford NW, Marshall HS. Disparities in parental awareness of children's seasonal influenza vaccination recommendations and influencers of vaccination. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230425. [PMID: 32271793 PMCID: PMC7145195 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine parental awareness of influenza vaccination recommendations for children and explore associations with awareness. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting/participants South Australian parents with a telephone listing in the Electronic White Pages were randomly selected. Methods Participants were interviewed using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) during May–July 2016. Univariable and multivariable analyses explored characteristics associated with awareness; with the survey data weighted to reflect the population of SA and the probability of selection within a household. Results Of 539 parents, 33% were aware of the recommendation that all children (<5 years) should receive the influenza vaccine annually with 51.9% aware that children with special risk medical conditions (SRMC) should also receive the vaccine annually. Characteristics strongly associated with parental awareness of the recommendation for children aged < 5 years were knowledge of recommendation for children with a SRMC (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 10.46, CI 4.44–24.63) or living in a metropolitan area (aOR 2.91, CI 1.19–7.09). There was lack of awareness in those not working (aOR 0.13, CI 0.04–0.47), with trade level education (compared with high school) (aOR 0.25 CI, 0.09–0.71) and in those born in the UK or Ireland (aOR 0.19, CI 0.04–0.85). Awareness of the recommendation for children with SRMC to receive the vaccine was strongly associated with knowledge of the influenza recommendation for children <5 years (aOR 10.22, CI 4.39–23.77) or not being born in Australia [UK/ Ireland (aOR 7.63, CI 1.86–31.31); other (aOR 3.93, CI 0.94–16.42)]. The most influential cues to future receipt were a general practitioner (GP) recommendation (63.8%) and providing influenza vaccine free for all children (37.6%). More parents who delayed or excluded vaccines believed that their children’s vaccinations (in general) were unnecessary, as other children were vaccinated (42.8%) compared to those with no or minor concerns (11.1%) (p<0.0001). Conclusions Parental awareness of children’s influenza vaccine recommendations is low. Targeted communication strategies and resources are required to establish broader community awareness of recommendations. Healthcare provider endorsement of the vaccine remains key and health care professionals, particularly GPs and paediatric specialists should be encouraged to discuss influenza vaccine with parents at every opportunity. Many parents have vaccine concerns and addressing concerns across the spectrum of hesitancy is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Tuckerman
- Discipline of Paediatrics, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Nigel W. Crawford
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne & Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Melbourne, Australia
- Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Helen S. Marshall
- Discipline of Paediatrics, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- * E-mail:
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