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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 Feb;102(2):e15-21.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300331. Epub 2011 Dec 15.

Text4Health: impact of text message reminder-recalls for pediatric and adolescent immunizations

Melissa S Stockwell  1 , Elyse Olshen Kharbanda, Raquel Andres Martinez, Marcos Lara, David Vawdrey, Karthik Natarajan, Vaughn I Rickert
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Text4Health: impact of text message reminder-recalls for pediatric and adolescent immunizations

Melissa S Stockwell et al. Am J Public Health. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: We conducted 2 studies to determine the impact of text message immunization reminder-recalls in an urban, low-income population.

Methods: In 1 study, text message immunization reminders were sent to a random sample of parents (n = 195) whose children aged 11 to 18 years needed either or both meningococcal (MCV4) and tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) immunizations. We compared receipt of MCV4 or Tdap at 4, 12, and 24 weeks with age- and gender-matched controls. In the other study, we compared attendance at a postshortage Haemophilus influenzae B (Hib) immunization recall session between parents who received text message and paper-mailed reminders (n = 87) and those who only received paper-mailed reminders (n = 87).

Results: Significantly more adolescents with intervention parents received either or both MCV4 and Tdap at weeks 4 (15.4% vs 4.2%; P < .001), 12 (26.7% vs 13.9%; P < .005), and 24 (36.4% vs 18.1%; P < .001). Significantly more parents who received both Hib reminders attended a recall session compared with parents who only received a mailed reminder (21.8% vs 9.2%; P < .05). After controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, insurance status, and language, text messaging was still significantly associated with both studies' outcomes.

Conclusions: Text messaging for reminder-recalls improved immunization coverage in a low-income, urban population.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Percentages of patients aged 11–18 years who received an additional needed adolescent vaccine at 4, 12, and 24 weeks: Text4Health–Adolescents, New York City, 2009. Note. MCV4 = meningococcal; Tdap = tetanus–diphtheria–acellular pertussis.**P < .01; ***P < .001.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Percentages of patients aged 11–18 years who received any vaccination at 4, 12, and 24 weeks: Text4Health–Adolescents, New York City, 2009. Note. Most common vaccines administered included meningococcal (MCV4), tetanus–diphtheria–acellular pertussis (Tdap), human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis A, influenza, varicella, and measles–mumps–rubella.*P < .05; **P < .01.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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