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.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 189-197 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | BMJ Quality & Safety |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 5 Aug 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2020 |
Bibliographical note
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.Keywords
- communication
- health policy
- infection control
- randomised controlled trial
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health Policy