The Effect of a Planning Prompt on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Rates

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Seasonal Influenza
• Interventions: Behavioral: Planning Prompt; Behavioral: Control Condition

• Registration Number: NCT01207232
• Lead Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

Brief Summary

The investigators conducted a 3-arm randomized controlled trial to test whether a low-cost planning intervention could increase influence vaccination rates.

Detailed Description

Seasonal influenza causes 20,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Past psychology research has demonstrated that prompting people to form an implementation plan of the form, "When situation x arises, I will implement response y," increases attainment of desired goals because the desired behavior is linked to a concrete future moment. This type of planning prompt is a "nudge" in the direction of desired behavior that can be implemented at minimal expense and does not restrict individual autonomy. We conducted a 3-arm randomized controlled trial to test whether a low-cost planning intervention could increase influence vaccination rates. We show that planning prompts can be successfully applied to improve health behaviors.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-10
• Primary Completion: 2009-11
• Study Completion: 2010-04
• Status Verified: 2010-09
• Study First Submitted: 2010-09-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-09-21
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-09-21
• Study First Posted: 2010-09-22
• Last Update Posted: 2010-09-22

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 3272

Inclusion Criteria

• Vaccine indications according to fall 2009 CDC criteria (age >= 50 or chronic disease
• Employee at partner corporation that implemented the study

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Exclusion Criteria

• None

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Time Plan Condition	Planning Prompt	A basic reminder mailing prompted each subject to write down a planned date and time for getting their flu shot.
Date Plan Condition	Planning Prompt	A basic reminder mailing prompted each subject to write down a planned date for getting their flu shot.
Control Condition	Control Condition	A basic reminder mailing prompted each subject to receive a flu shot.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Receipt of 2009 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination	up to 30 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Pennsylvania; 🇺🇸 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States