Randomised controlled trial of a theory-based intervention to prompt front-line staff to take up the seasonal influenza vaccine

Kelly Ann Schmidtke, Peter G Nightingale, Katharine Reeves, Suzy Gallier, Ivo Vlaev, Samuel I Watson, Richard J Lilford

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)
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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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)189-197
Number of pages9
JournalBMJ Quality & Safety
Volume29
Issue number3
Early online date5 Aug 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 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

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