Herpes Zoster Disease
Conditions
Keywords
Herpes Zoster vaccine, Electronic patient portal, Electronic medical record, Primary care, Immunizations
Brief summary
Despite the significant benefits of herpes zoster vaccine (HZV), vaccination rates remain low. Electronic medical records (EMR) can serve as a practical strategy to better facilitate the application of preventative health care, such as increasing immunization rates. A new care model that can increase the herpes zoster vaccination rate, as well as other preventative health services, is warranted. The objective of this study is to investigate if the functions of an EMR, in combination with a pharmacist as part of the care team, can improve the herpes zoster vaccination rate.
Interventions
OTHERAn informational packet regarding shingles and the HZV was sent to patients identified by the EMR
The EMR generated a list of patients aged 60 or older without HZV documentation. Patients were categorized into two subgroups based on activated electronic patient portal (EPP) status. Randomized patients from each subgroup received an informational packet regarding shingles and the HZV by either the EMR or USPS mail, depending on EPP status. A pharmacist reviewed the medical chart of interested patients to assess if the HZV was clinically indicated; eligible patients were mailed a HZV prescription.
Sponsors
Ohio State University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Greater than 60 years of age
Exclusion criteria
* Documented herpes zoster vaccine in the EMR
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Participants Who Received the Herpes Zoster Vaccine | 6 months | Six months after the intervention, a second EMR report was generated to determine the change in vaccination rate of both the intervention and control groups. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Difference in Vaccination Rates Between Patients Who Recieved a Mailed Letter Versus a Secure Email | 6 months | Difference in vaccination rates between patients sent communications via US postal service (USPS) and those sent communications via electronic patient portal (EPP) |
| Amount of Time Required by a Clinical Pharmacist to Manage This Workflow | 6 months | — |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| An Informational Packet Regarding Shingles and the HZV An informational packet regarding shingles and the HZV was sent to patients identified by the EMR: The EMR generated a list of patients aged 60 or older without HZV documentation. Patients were categorized into two subgroups based on activated electronic patient portal (EPP) status. Randomized patients from each subgroup received an informational packet regarding shingles and the HZV by either the EMR or USPS mail, depending on EPP status. A pharmacist reviewed the medical chart of interested patients to assess if the HZV was clinically indicated; eligible patients were mailed a HZV prescription. | 500 |
| Standard Medical Care From Their Primary Care Physician | 2,089 |
| Total | 2,589 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Standard Medical Care From Their Primary Care Physician | An Informational Packet Regarding Shingles and the HZV | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 2089 Participants | 500 Participants | 2589 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Continuous | 73.1 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.1 | 72.1 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.4 | 72.8 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.7 |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 2089 participants | 500 participants | 2589 participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 1174 Participants | 265 Participants | 1439 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 915 Participants | 235 Participants | 1150 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | — / — | — / — |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 500 | 0 / 2,089 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 500 | 0 / 2,089 |
Outcome results
Primary
Number of Participants Who Received the Herpes Zoster Vaccine
Six months after the intervention, a second EMR report was generated to determine the change in vaccination rate of both the intervention and control groups.
Time frame: 6 months
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| An Informational Packet Regarding Shingles and the HZV | Number of Participants Who Received the Herpes Zoster Vaccine | 500 Participants |
| Standard Medical Care From Their Primary Care Physician | Number of Participants Who Received the Herpes Zoster Vaccine | 2089 Participants |
Secondary
Amount of Time Required by a Clinical Pharmacist to Manage This Workflow
Time frame: 6 months
Secondary
Difference in Vaccination Rates Between Patients Who Recieved a Mailed Letter Versus a Secure Email
Difference in vaccination rates between patients sent communications via US postal service (USPS) and those sent communications via electronic patient portal (EPP)
Time frame: 6 months