Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine Reminder Systems

May 9, 2013 updated by: Kaiser Permanente

The Effectiveness and Cost of Different Methods of Reminders for Annual Influenza Immunization Among Adults With Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Influenza disease causes significant morbidity and mortality in the Unites States each year. Although influenza can cause morbidity in otherwise healthy individuals, adults with chronic lung disease have significantly increased rates of hospitalization from influenza-related illnesses compared to healthy adults. Influenza vaccination is the primary means of preventing influenza disease. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all individuals 6 months of age and older in the United States. Influenza vaccination rates are sub-optimal, however. Patient reminder/recall has been shown, in multiple studies across a variety of age groups and health conditions, to increase immunization rates. However, the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different types of reminder/recall has not been well-studied, particularly in adults. In the fall of 2012, the Population and Prevention Services (PPS) Department at Kaiser Permanente Colorado (KPCO) is using 3 different reminder strategies for influenza vaccination among adults with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study is to provide a rigorous evaluation of which strategy is more effective and more cost-effective, to promote influenza vaccination.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

At KPCO, postcards are typically sent to members each fall, to remind members to receive their annual influenza vaccine. At KPCO, interactive voice response (IVR) systems have been utilized for a number of prevention reminders, but have not in the past been used for influenza vaccination reminders. For the 2012-2013 influenza season, the PPS department is going to send three different types of reminders to their adult patients with certain chronic lung diseases (specifically, adults with asthma and COPD): postcards only; IVR reminders only; postcards plus IVR reminders. This study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness, of an already-finalized operational plan for influenza reminders.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

12255

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Colorado
      • Denver, Colorado, United States, 80237
        • Kaiser Permanente Colorado

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

19 years to 64 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 19 to 64 years
  • Enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Colorado health plan
  • Diagnosis of asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects living in households with other individuals in high-risk categories for influenza morbidity

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Postcard Only Reminder Group
In the postcard reminder intervention, the member will receive a single postcard, addressed to the member with asthma or COPD.
Behavioral: Postcard Only Reminder Group
Postcard: The postcard will be sent as a single postcard to each individual on the list. The postcard will be sent to the home address of the member. If the postcard is returned, due to an inaccurate address, the postcard will not be re-sent. The postcard does not identify that the member has a chronic health condition such as asthma or COPD. The postcard will be mailed during the last two weeks of September, 2012.
Active Comparator: IVR Only Reminder Group
In the IVR reminder intervention, targeted members will be contacted by the interactive voice response system
Behavioral: IVR Only Reminder Group
IVR: Subjects in this reminder group will receive an automated telephone call to their primary telephone number. A total of 2 call attempts per member will be made. The IVR system will provide a message about the importance of annual influenza vaccination. The member can also request additional information about influenza vaccination and influenza vaccination locations and times.
Active Comparator: Postcard and IVR Reminder Group
In this group, individuals will receive both a postcard reminder and an IVR reminder.
Behavioral: Postcard and IVR Reminder Group

IVR: Subjects in this reminder group will receive an automated telephone call to their primary telephone number. A total of 2 call attempts per member will be made. The IVR system will provide a message about the importance of annual influenza vaccination. The member can also request additional information about influenza vaccination and influenza vaccination locations and times.

Postcard: The postcard will be sent as a single postcard to each individual on the list. The postcard will be sent to the home address of the member. If the postcard is returned, the postcard will not be re-sent. The postcard does not identify that the member has a chronic health condition such as asthma or COPD. The postcard will be mailed during the last two weeks of September, 2012.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Receipt of influenza vaccine
Time Frame: up to 7 months
The 2012-2013 influenza season, defined as October to April.
up to 7 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total unit cost per outreach method
Time Frame: up to 10 months
The time in months to develop, plan, and implement the intervention arms, as a function of cost.
up to 10 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Kaiser Permanente

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Matthew F. Daley, MD, Kaiser Permanente

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

September 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 8, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 9, 2013

First Posted (Estimate)

May 14, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

May 14, 2013

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 9, 2013

Last Verified

May 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 12010936

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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