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Clinical Trial
. 1999 Nov;14(11):695-8.
doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.1999.11098.x.

Educational content and the effectiveness of influenza vaccination reminders

K Armstrong  1 , M Berlin, J S Schwartz, K Propert, P A Ubel
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Educational content and the effectiveness of influenza vaccination reminders

K Armstrong et al. J Gen Intern Med. 1999 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: To determine if a mailed patient education brochure (addressing demonstrated reasons for vaccination refusal) would result in a higher rate of influenza vaccination than a mailed postcard reminder without educational content.

Design: Randomized, controlled trial.

Setting: Urban, predominantly African-American, low-income community.

Participants: There were 740 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and older in the study.

Measurements: Receipt of influenza vaccination and beliefs about influenza and influenza vaccination were measured by telephone survey self-report.

Main results: We successfully contacted 202 individuals (69.9%) who received the postcard reminder and 229 individuals (71.1%) who received the educational brochure. People receiving the educational brochure were more likely to report influenza vaccination during the previous vaccination season than those who received the postcard reminder (66.4% vs 56.9%, p =.04). They also reported more interest in influenza vaccination in the coming year. (66.5% vs 57.1%, p =.05).

Conclusions: A mailed educational brochure is more effective than a simple reminder in increasing influenza vaccination rates among inner-city, elderly patients.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Subject selection and response. The circled letter “R” indicates randomly selected.
Appendix A
Appendix A
Educational Brochure
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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