How effective are digital interventions in increasing flu vaccination amongst pregnant women? A systematic review protocol

Abstract

Background: Pregnant women and their unborn babies are at increased risk of complications as a result of flu, yet uptake of the flu vaccination in the UK remains low. Digital interventions have proven effectiveness in changing health behaviour, but their effectiveness in increasing flu vaccination amongst pregnant women has not been examined. This protocol details the design and methodology of a systematic review and meta-analysis, examining the effectiveness of digital interventions in increasing flu vaccination amongst pregnant women. Methods: Bibliographic databases will be searched using appropriate search terms related to vaccination, pregnancy and flu. Randomised, non-randomised, quasi randomised controlled trials and other quantitative study designs will be eligible for inclusion, and studies will present the rate of flu vaccination amongst pregnant women of digital interventions compared to non-digital interventions, or usual care. No date or study country restrictions will be put on included studies, but studies will be published in English. Discussion: This is the first known systematic review to examine the effectiveness of digital interventions in increasing the rate of flu vaccination amongst pregnant women. This review has the potential to inform whether digital interventions are an appropriate and successful method of increasing flu vaccination amongst pregnant women, and to determine which mode of digital intervention is most effective.Registration: This systematic review is registered on the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO). Registration number: INSERT NUMBER.

The development of a digital intervention to increase influenza vaccination amongst pregnant women

“…They also often believed that the vaccination could cause ill-health, and that it was a live vaccine. 39 This informed determinants that the animation will target in an attempt to change risk and efficacy appraisals, and subsequently increase the uptake of flu vaccination in this population.…”

“…Participants also felt that the animation was likely to increase pregnant women’s intentions to take up the offer of the flu vaccination. 39 There were minor changes identified as a result of the acceptability testing, such as changes to colouring of background and characters within the animation, and ordering of the animation, which resulted in a final round of amendments and minor changes being made.…”

“…Furthermore, used within a primary care setting such as a general practice as part of routine flu vaccination communication could further increase the access to the information within the animation. As the animation was based on findings of qualitative work with pregnant women, 39 the information contained within the animation is likely to be consistent with questions or concerns that pregnant women may have about flu and the vaccination.…”

“…Qualitative work, consisting of interviews with 24 pregnant women, recruited from hospital antenatal clinics and social media sites was conducted to fill a gap in the current research by providing insight into the beliefs (categorised using the Illness Risk Representation (IRR) Framework 37 , 38 to establish what beliefs are underlying estimates of likelihood and severity of flu. 39 …”

Effectiveness of a Digital Intervention in Increasing Flu Vaccination–Related Risk Appraisal, Intention to Vaccinate and Vaccination Behaviour Among Pregnant Women

“…The content and the messages within the animation were informed by a qualitative study, which identified knowledge gaps across a sample of 24 pregnant women recruited from community and hospital settings. This qualitative research identified that pregnant women underestimate their vulnerability to flu, underestimate the severity of flu to themselves and their unborn baby, and identified that pregnant women thought the flu vaccination was a live vaccine ( Parsons, 2019 ). The animation was designed to target all of these knowledge gaps.…”