CATCH-UP vaccines: protocol for a randomized controlled trial using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) framework to evaluate education interventions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Oklahoma

Abstract

Background Oklahoma’s cumulative COVID-19 incidence is higher in rural than urban counties and higher than the overall US incidence. Furthermore, fewer Oklahomans have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine compared to the US average. Our goal is to conduct a randomized controlled trial using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) to test multiple educational interventions to improve uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among underserved populations in Oklahoma. Methods Our study uses the preparation and optimization phases of the MOST framework. We conduct focus groups among community partners and community members previously involved in hosting COVID-19 testing events to inform intervention design (preparation). In a randomized clinical trial, we test three interventions to improve vaccination uptake: (1) process improvement (text messages); (2) barrier elicitation and reduction (electronic survey with tailored questions/prompts); and (2) teachable moment messaging (motivational interviewing) in a three-factor fully crossed factorial design (optimization). Discussion Because of Oklahoma’s higher COVID-19 impact and lower vaccine uptake, identifying community-driven interventions is critical to address vaccine hesitancy. The MOST framework provides an innovative and timely opportunity to efficiently evaluate multiple educational interventions in a single study. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05236270, First Posted: February 11, 2022, Last Update Posted: August 31, 2022.

Toward trustworthy COVID-19 interventions: Building vaccine trust through community-university partnerships

“…As an exploratory study based on a relatively small sample, this research has inherent limitations regarding generalizability. Future research, some of which is currently in progress by our research team [ 52 ], should test interventions that incorporate “trustworthy” characteristics identified in this study to determine their effectiveness at both increasing trust and vaccine confidence. The extent to which our findings apply to distrust and hesitancy surrounding other types of vaccines is also unknown.…”

“…In August 2021, the research team received a supplementary grant award (CATCH-UP Vaccines, NIH grant number 3U54GM104938-09S3), funded through the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics–Underserved Populations program (RADx-UP), to design and test interventions to reduce vaccine hesitancy [for the final intervention protocol, see 52 ]. With a primary aim to inform intervention design, we conducted focus groups with community partners and others involved in organizing or running community testing and vaccine events.…”

Study protocol: Project 2VIDA! SARS-CoV-2 vaccine intervention delivery for adults in Southern California

“…Since the onset of the pandemic, a variety of approaches have been employed to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates among racial/ethnic minorities and vulnerable populations, including provider delivered educational interventions ( 22 ); patient education, incentives, reminders (e.g., text messaging), motivational interviewing ( 23 ); digital interventions ( 24 ); community-based approaches ( 25 , 26 ) and provision of vaccines in settings serving high risk populations ( 27 ). However, these studies have yield mixed findings, noting that some interventions had no notable change in COVID-19 vaccine uptake ( 23 ).…”