Text4Health: A Qualitative Evaluation of Parental Readiness for Text Message Immunization Reminders

Abstract

75%, Fisher exact p ¼ 0.83). Adjusting for weekend vs. weekday, participants who used substances on a given day were more likely to have sex (OR ¼ 1.53, p ¼ 0.04), but tended to be less likely to not use a condom (OR ¼ 0.75, p ¼ 0.08) on that day. Probability of substance use occurring 2, 6, or 12 hours before sex was 0.12, 0.21, and 0.28, respectively. Substance use was not associated with subsequent condom nonuse (OR ¼ 0.69, 0.78, 0.89, p ¼ 0.21, 0.23, 0.58 for 2, 6, and 12 hours, respectively). Conclusions: Depressed adolescents were more likely to have sex on the same day that they use substances. However, they were not more likely have unprotected sex and or to have sex immediately after substance use. These findings do not support a disinhibition hypothesis; social and contextual factors may better explain the same-day occurrence of sex and substance use.

Utilizing health information technology to improve vaccine communication and coverage

“…In focus groups of parents of adolescents, we found that many of them preferred them to mail or phone reminders. 58 In a study of low-income parents in Kansas, 90% of those surveyed were open to text messages from their doctor or nurse; 71 we found similar rates in a group of low-income families in New York City. 62 In a national study, 56% of the 1612 parents surveyed were willing to register their cell number with their child's usual vaccination provider, and another 18% were undecided.…”

“…62 In a national study, 56% of the 1612 parents surveyed were willing to register their cell number with their child's usual vaccination provider, and another 18% were undecided. 60 Parents prefer text messages that are simple, short and personalized and include provider information 58,62,72 Although to date text message interventions have focused on parents, as older adolescents play a role in vaccine decision-making, they can also be recipients of vaccine reminders. 73 Provider interest in text messaging has been mixed.…”

“…61 Finally, cost has been raised as an issue, but many families, especially those with low-income, have unlimited text messages, perhaps mitigating the impact of cost on the success of these interventions. 57,58,60,62 The effects of costs particularly from the perspective of health care systems have not been studied, but vendors that have used traditional methods for reminder/recall now also offer text message reminders, so practices that already employ reminder-recall may incur similar costs. 57,62 Although text messaging has been used sparsely for nonvaccination-related interventions in the pediatric and adolescent population, use has generally proven effective.…”

“…Parents have reported that they attract their attention in a different way than a letter reminder. 58 They also reach the intended participant as opposed to a letter, which anyone in the household might open, or an automated telephone reminder, which will play for whomever answers the phone or picks up the answering machine message. Text messages also remain on a person's cellular phone, which is often with them, allowing potentially important reference information, such as influenza vaccine walk-in hours at a clinic, to be easily accessible.…”

A Prospective Observational Study of US In-office Pediatric Influenza Vaccination During the 2007 to 2009 Influenza Seasons: Use and Factors Associated With Increased Vaccination Rates

“…Whereas previous studies have evaluated influenza vaccinations with survey data 5 or retrospectively with claims data, 2,6 no study has prospectively quantified influenza vaccination in US pediatricians' offices. Strategies proposed to increase vaccine uptake include standing orders, reminder/recall systems, after-hours and weekend vaccination clinics, offering influenza vaccination to parents, and parent/patient letters, posters, flyers, phone calls, text messages 7 and Emails. 2,[8][9][10] Increased knowledge of the various tactics actually used by pediatric offices to deliver the influenza vaccine to children may help inform national recommendations by organizations such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics.…”