None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The current vaccination rates for Australian children under the age of five are below the national target of 95% coverage, which is required to achieve herd immunity. Herd immunity is a pattern of immunity where the risk of an individual contracting an infection is reduced by having vaccinated or immune individuals surrounding them, hence protecting against infectious diseases such as measles and smallpox. The low vaccination rates can be attributable to vaccine hesitancy which is the delay in acceptance of a vaccine despite availability. This behaviour occurs on a spectrum and is influenced by various factors. A novel way to reduce vaccine hesitancy is by implementing strategies informed by the field of behavioural economics through SMS technology. This single blinded randomised controlled trial will enrol up to 274 new parents from King Edward Memorial Hospital. Participants will be randomised into two groups, both receiving a vaccine hesitancy survey before and after the intervention (an SMS reminder.) The outcome will be measured through a change in the vaccine hesitancy score, calculated from survey responses. The primary objective of this study is to examine the effect of negative SMS vaccine reminders on vaccine hesitancy in new parents.
Interventions
Intervention: SMS-Reminder to New Parents
Method: Delivered via phone through mass SMS services.
Timing: 6 weeks post-natally, prior to their child's 6-8 week vaccination. Interventional SMS only sent once.
1) Group A (intervention): Telethon Kids health message: Your child is now due for their 2 month vaccination. Delaying a child’s vaccination can put them and other children at risk. Do not reply to this text message
2) Group B (control): Telethon Kids health message: Sleeping your baby on its
Intervention: SMS-Reminder to New Parents Method: Delivered via phone through mass SMS services. Timing: 6 weeks post-natally, prior to their child's 6-8 week vaccination. Interventional SMS only sent once. 1) Group A (intervention): Telethon Kids health message: Your child is now due for their 2 month vaccination. Delaying a child’s vaccination can put them and other children at risk. Do not reply to this text message 2) Group B (control): Telethon Kids health message: Sleeping your baby on its back is safest for preventing SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Do not reply to this text message
Sponsors
Telethon Kids Institute
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Parent(s) are above the age of 18 2. Parent(s) are English speaking (primary or secondary) 3. Mother is greater than or equal to 28 weeks pregnant 4. Parent(s) have a mobile phone with text messaging and data/wifi connection capabilities 5. Parent(s) are able to be contacted via mobile phone during the course of the study.
Exclusion criteria
1. Parent(s) who are unsuitable for the study as advised by clinic staff 2. Parent(s) suffer from a condition that interferes with their ability to give informed consent and/or comply with the study 3. Parent(s) with a baby born greater than or equal to 38 weeks.
Outcome results
None listed