Effectiveness of interventions that apply new media to improve vaccine uptake and vaccine coverage

Abstract

Background: Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) are still a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In high and middle-income settings, immunization coverage is relatively high. However, in many countries coverage rates of routinely recommended vaccines are still below the targets established by international and national advisory committees. Progress in the field of communication technology might provide useful tools to enhance immunization strategies.Objective: To systematically collect and summarize the available evidence on the effectiveness of interventions that apply new media to promote vaccination uptake and increase vaccination coverage.Design: We conducted a systematic literature review. studies published from January 1999 to september 2013 were identified by searching electronic resources (Pubmed, embase), manual searches of references and expert consultation.Study setting: We focused on interventions that targeted recommended vaccinations for children, adolescents and adults and: (1) aimed at increasing community demand for immunizations, or (2) were provider-based interventions. We limited the study setting to countries that are members of the Organisation for economic co-operation and Development (OecD). Main outcome measures:The primary outcome was a measure of vaccination (vaccine uptake or vaccine coverage). considered secondary outcomes included willingness to receive immunization, attitudes and perceptions toward vaccination, and perceived helpfulness of the intervention.Results: Nineteen studies were included in the systematic review. The majority of the studies were conducted in the Us (74%, n = 14); 68% (n = 13) of the studies were experimental, the rest having an observational study design. eleven (58%) reported results on the primary outcome. Retrieved studies explored the role of: text messaging (n.7, 37%), smartphone applications (n.1, 5%), Youtube videos (n.1, 5%), Facebook (n.1, 5%), targeted websites and portals (n.4, 21%), software for physicians and health professionals (n.4, 21%), and email communication (n.1, 5%). There is some evidence that text messaging, accessing immunization campaign websites, using patient-held web-based portals and computerized reminders increase immunization coverage rates. Insufficient evidence is available on the use of social networks, email communication and smartphone applications.Conclusion: although there is great potential for improving vaccine uptake and vaccine coverage by implementing programs and interventions that apply new media, scant data are available and further rigorous research-including cost-effectiveness assessments-is needed.

Strategies intended to address vaccine hesitancy: Review of published reviews

“…For instance, Odone et al reviewed interventions that apply new media (Internet and social media) to promote vaccine uptake and increase vaccination coverage [16]. These authors concluded that text messaging, accessing vaccination campaign websites, using patient-held web-based portals and computerised reminders may increase vaccine uptake, whereas there was insufficient evidence to determine effectiveness of use of social networks, email communication and smartphone applications [17]. Cairns et al examined the effectiveness of promotional communications in the European context and also concluded that there is good evidence that a range of promotional communications can positively change knowledge, attitudes and behaviours.…”

“…Globally, most of the interventions analysed in the reviews that were examined for the present study were primarily to inform or to educate about vaccination [13,14,16,17,20,21,25]. Brief written educational interventions (e.g.…”

“…The search strategy yielded 15 literature reviews or metaanalysis that met the eligibility criteria [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. The majority of these were published in the last 3 years (9/15).…”

Public health value of universal HPV vaccination

“…These achievements demand urgent attention to the social equity for both genders in healthcare (84); advocating and educating the general public and the medical community on HPV vaccination is a top priority (85).…”

The future of immunization policies in Italy and in the European Union: The Declaration of Erice

“…The growing role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and 'new media' should be leveraged by institutions and the public health community to increase vaccine uptake and ultimately immunization coverage rates. 18 Innovative tools of proven effectiveness, which need to be widely implemented, include: immunization information systems, computerized reminders for providers and electronic remind/recall systems for parents and patients; 11. Efforts should be devoted to the development of wider partnerships between the stakeholders involved in the various phases of the immunization process, of enhanced joint efforts and of strengthened cross-program links between health services; 12.…”