None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Immunisations are an important public health intervention for reducing the morbidity and mortality caused by vaccine-preventable diseases in the community. Certain individuals are at higher risk of serious complications following influenza infection, and unfortunately, influenza vaccine has the lowest uptake of any routine vaccination program in Australia. Studies from overseas have shown the use of text message reminders (also called short message service [SMS] reminders) can be an effective method of promoting vaccines to priority groups. The Western Australia Department of Health (WA Health) is interested in creating a program for general practitioners to use during the influenza vaccination season to remind patients they are eligible for government-funded influenza vaccine. To assess whether this activity is an effective and efficient use of resources, WA health intends to evaluate the impact of a prototypic reminder system in a subset of practices.
Interventions
Patients at 10 participating general practices in the Perth metropolitan area will be sent a short message service (SMS) reminding them to schedule an appointment for influenza vaccination. The message will be sent only once between 10 May and 26 May 2016 (approximately 8 weeks following the availability of influenza vaccine). The message will only be sent to patients who have not yet received an annual influenza vaccine. The message will be sent directly from the general practice to the patient
Patients at 10 participating general practices in the Perth metropolitan area will be sent a short message service (SMS) reminding them to schedule an appointment for influenza vaccination. The message will be sent only once between 10 May and 26 May 2016 (approximately 8 weeks following the availability of influenza vaccine). The message will only be sent to patients who have not yet received an annual influenza vaccine. The message will be sent directly from the general practice to the patient and will read: "Our records show that [you/your child] is eligible for free seasonal influenza vaccine. Please contact [Practice name] at [Practice number] to schedule an appointment for vaccination."
Sponsors
Department of Health Western Australia
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Primary purpose
Prevention
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
15 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Active patients at a participating general practice. 2. Are eligible for the influenza vaccine under the National Immunisation Programme or state-funded programme (e.g., adults >=65 years of age, adults with chronic medical conditions [including chronic heart and lung conditions], pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals >=15 years, pregnant women, parents of children<15 years) 3. Have not received this year's influenza vaccine at the time of the trial. 4. Have a mobile phone number on record with the general practice
Exclusion criteria
1. Have not visited the practice in the last three years 2. Are not eligible for free influenza vaccine under the National Immunisation Programme or state-funded programme. 3. Have a record of receiving this year's influenza vaccine prior to the trial start. 4. Have no mobile phone number on record at the general practice.
Outcome results
None listed