BMJ Qual Saf. 2019 Aug 5. pii: bmjqs-2019-009775. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009775. [Epub ahead of print]
Randomised controlled trial of a theory-based intervention to prompt front-line staff to take up the seasonal influenza vaccine.
Schmidtke KA1, Nightingale PG2, Reeves K2, Gallier S2, Vlaev I3, Watson SI4, Lilford RJ5.
Author information
1 Department of Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK. 2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK. 3 Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands, UK. 4 Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands, UK. 5 Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands, UK R.J.Lilford@warwick.ac.uk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the effectiveness of reminder letters informed by social normative theory (a type of 'nudge theory') on uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination by front-line hospital staff.
DESIGN:
Individually randomised controlled trial.
SETTING:
A large acute care hospital in England.
PARTICIPANTS:
Front-line staff employed by the hospital (n=7540) were randomly allocated to one of four reminder types in a factorial design.
INTERVENTIONS:
The standard letter included only general information directing the staff to take up the vaccine. A second letter highlighted a type of social norm based on peer comparisons. A third letter highlighted a type of social norm based on an appeal to authority. A fourth letter included a combination of the social norms.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:
The proportion of hospital staff vaccinated on-site.
RESULTS:
Vaccine coverage was 43% (812/1885) in the standard letter group, 43% (818/1885) in the descriptive norms group, 43% (814/1885) in the injunctive norms group and 43% (812/1885) in the combination group. There were no statistically significant effects of either norm or the interaction. The OR for the descriptive norms factor is 1.01 (0.89-1.15) in the absence of the injunctive norms factor and 1.00 (0.88-1.13) in its presence. The OR for the injunctive norms factor is 1.00 (0.88-1.14) in the absence of the descriptive norms factor and 0.99 (0.87-1.12) in its presence.
CONCLUSIONS:
We find no evidence that the uptake of the seasonal influenza vaccination is affected by reminders using social norms to motivate uptake.
? Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.
KEYWORDS:
communication; health policy; infection control; randomised controlled trial
PMID: 31383723 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009775
Free full text
Randomised controlled trial of a theory-based intervention to prompt front-line staff to take up the seasonal influenza vaccine.
Schmidtke KA1, Nightingale PG2, Reeves K2, Gallier S2, Vlaev I3, Watson SI4, Lilford RJ5.
Author information
1 Department of Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK. 2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK. 3 Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands, UK. 4 Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands, UK. 5 Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands, UK R.J.Lilford@warwick.ac.uk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the effectiveness of reminder letters informed by social normative theory (a type of 'nudge theory') on uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination by front-line hospital staff.
DESIGN:
Individually randomised controlled trial.
SETTING:
A large acute care hospital in England.
PARTICIPANTS:
Front-line staff employed by the hospital (n=7540) were randomly allocated to one of four reminder types in a factorial design.
INTERVENTIONS:
The standard letter included only general information directing the staff to take up the vaccine. A second letter highlighted a type of social norm based on peer comparisons. A third letter highlighted a type of social norm based on an appeal to authority. A fourth letter included a combination of the social norms.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:
The proportion of hospital staff vaccinated on-site.
RESULTS:
Vaccine coverage was 43% (812/1885) in the standard letter group, 43% (818/1885) in the descriptive norms group, 43% (814/1885) in the injunctive norms group and 43% (812/1885) in the combination group. There were no statistically significant effects of either norm or the interaction. The OR for the descriptive norms factor is 1.01 (0.89-1.15) in the absence of the injunctive norms factor and 1.00 (0.88-1.13) in its presence. The OR for the injunctive norms factor is 1.00 (0.88-1.14) in the absence of the descriptive norms factor and 0.99 (0.87-1.12) in its presence.
CONCLUSIONS:
We find no evidence that the uptake of the seasonal influenza vaccination is affected by reminders using social norms to motivate uptake.
? Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.
KEYWORDS:
communication; health policy; infection control; randomised controlled trial
PMID: 31383723 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009775
Free full text