Pediatric Second Influenza Dose Portal Reminder Recall
Condition: Influenza; Respiratory Tract Infections
MeSH terms: Influenza, Human; Respiratory Tract Infections
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This trial is taking place in Los Angeles, CA among patients from primary care practices
      within the UCLA Health System.

      The study design is a parallel 2-arm trial. The parallel arms are 1) a reminder letter for
      the second dose of influenza vaccine (reminder messages sent via the patient portal) with a
      direct appointment scheduling link included in the reminder and 2) a reminder letter for the
      second dose of influenza vaccine, but no direct appointment scheduling link included.
    

Detailed description: 
      This trial is taking place in Los Angeles, CA among patients from primary care practices
      within the UCLA Health System, using a parallel 2-arm trial.

      Sub-optimal vaccination rates are a significant problem in the U.S., despite their
      effectiveness in preventing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable illness. In the
      U.S., annual epidemics of influenza cause substantial morbidity in the U.S. with up to
      40,00-80,000 deaths/year and many hospitalizations, emergency and outpatient visits, and
      significant costs.

      Young children-especially those younger than 2- are at high risk of developing serious
      flu-related complications. Children ages of 6 months to 8 years getting vaccinated for the
      first time with influenza vaccine should get two doses, and those who have only previously
      gotten one dose of influenza vaccine, should get a second dose (spaced at least 4 weeks
      apart).

      Reminder/recall (R/R) messages, sent by phone, mail or other modality, can improve child
      vaccination rates. However, the majority of pediatric or adult primary care practices to not
      conduct R/R. Barriers are lack of finances, personnel, and algorithms to identify eligible
      patients. A technological breakthrough that might overcome these barriers involves patient
      portals-- secure, web-based communication systems, embedded within electronic health records
      (EHRs), for patients and providers to communicate with each other via email and the internet.
      Portals are increasingly used by healthcare systems.

      This randomized controlled trial will assess the effectiveness of reminders messages, sent to
      the proxy of pediatric patients ages 6 months to <36 months of age eligible for a second dose
      of the influenza vaccine based on data in the EHR. Patients will be randomized into one of
      two arms to receive 1) a reminder letter for a second dose of influenza vaccine, with a
      direct appointment scheduling link included in the letter or 2) a reminder letter for a
      second dose of influenza vaccine, without a direct appointment scheduling link included in
      the letter.
    

Intervention name(s): Portal Reminders for Second Dose of Influenza Vaccine with Direct Scheduling Link; Portal Reminders for Second Dose of Influenza Vaccine without Direct Scheduling Link
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Patient proxy receives reminder/recall messages via the patient portal to get a second dose of influenza vaccine with a direct scheduling link included, enabling the patient to directly schedule a flu vaccination only visit; Patient proxy receives reminder/recall messages via the patient portal to get a second dose of influenza vaccine with no direct scheduling link included
Intervention MeSH terms: Vaccines
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Health Services Research
Keywords: Vaccination; Reminder Recall; Patient Portal