Question-behavior effect and flu vaccination in the over 65s
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN16437731 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16437731 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | N/A |
- Submission date
- 17/03/2016
- Registration date
- 22/03/2016
- Last edited
- 27/04/2018
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Respiratory
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Asking questions about a behaviour can change that behaviour – called the Question Behaviour Effect (QBE). The aim of this study is to test the QBE as a simple (and potentially cost effective) way to increase influenza vaccination rates among older adults. We will assess whether sending older adults a questionnaire about influenza vaccination increases vaccination rates.
Who can participate?
Patients who are eligible for an influenza vaccination by being age 65 or over at their next birthday
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of eight groups: either to receive no questionnaire, or to receive a questionnaire measuring:
1. Demographics (i.e., asking whether they had children, their occupation, marital status, and ethnic origin)
2. Demographics plus items about intentions to get vaccinated and attitudes towards vaccination
3. Demographics plus items about intentions to get vaccinated and attitudes towards vaccination plus a post it note requesting questionnaire completion
4. Demographics plus items about anticipated regret about getting vaccinated, intentions to get vaccinated and attitudes towards vaccination
5. Demographics plus items about anticipated regret about getting vaccinated, intentions to get vaccinated and attitudes towards vaccination, plus a post it note requesting questionnaire completion
6. Demographics plus items about benefits of getting vaccinated, intentions to get vaccinated and attitudes towards vaccination
7. Demographics plus items about benefits of getting vaccinated, intentions to get vaccinated and attitudes towards vaccination, plus a post it note requesting questionnaire completion.
We tested the effects of these different questions on influenza vaccination rates.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The benefits of participating were helping inform the development of interventions to improve vaccination uptake. There were no risks of participating.
Where is the study run from?
General practices in northern England, Leeds, UK
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2012 to February 2013
Who is funding the study?
Economic and Social Research Council (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof Mark Conner
m.t.conner@leeds.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
University of Leeds
School of Psychology
Leeds
LS2 9JT
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-6229-8143 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)113 3435720 |
| m.t.conner@leeds.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Interventional randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | GP practice |
| Study type | Prevention |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | Varying cognitive targets and response rates to enhance the question-behavior effect: an eight-arm randomized controlled trial on influenza vaccination |
| Study objectives | Asking questions about a behaviour can change that behaviour - the Question Behaviour Effect (QBE). The present research tested the QBE as a simple (and potentially cost effective) means to increase influenza vaccination rates among older adults. We tested the effects of different questions on influenza vaccination rates. We also tested the effect of a manipulation (sticky post it note with request for help) designed to increase questionnaire response rates on influenza vaccination rates. |
| Ethics approval(s) | NRES Committee Yorkshire and Humber - Bradford, 19/07/2011, 11/YH/0229 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Influenza |
| Intervention | There are eight arms. Participants in the control 1 (no questionnaire) condition did not receive a questionnaire. Participants in the control 2 (demographics questionnaire) condition received a questionnaire tapping whether they had children, their occupation, marital status, and ethnic origin. Participants in the other six conditions received a questionnaire tapping the same demographic questions plus questions about influenza vaccination. The first (intention + attitude condition) questionnaire contained items tapping intentions and attitudes in relation to influenza vaccination; the second (anticipated regret + intention + attitude condition) questionnaire additionally contained anticipated regret questions; the third (beneficence + intention + attitude condition) questionnaire additionally contained beneficence questions. The other three (intervention) questionnaires were the same, but had a sticky note attached to the front that included a message (‘Please take a few minutes to complete this for us. Thank you!’). The message was printed in blue on a yellow (72x72mm) sticky note but with the message appearing to be hand written. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | Receiving an influenza vaccination in period 28/07/2012 to 07/02/2013 following invitation as indicated by records |
| Secondary outcome measures | None |
| Overall study start date | 28/07/2012 |
| Completion date | 07/02/2013 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Senior |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 13,452 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Participants recruited from General Practices in the northern England, Leeds, UK area who were not taking part in a centralized influenza vaccination invitation scheme in Autumn 2012 2. The study population consisted of all patients in each practice eligible for an influenza vaccination that year by being age 65 years or over at their next birthday 3. A total of 13,806 patients were individually randomly assigned to one of eight conditions using a random number generator. Subsequently, 354 patients were deemed ineligible for vaccination (i.e., due to having left the General Practice, being deceased, unable to have a vaccination due to a medical condition, or having already received a vaccination) and excluded from the study, leaving 13,452 patients who were included in intention-to-treat analyses 4. A total of 4934 completed questionnaires (43.1%) were returned from 11752 sent out. The sample was 56.2% female with a mean age of 75.5 years (SD = 7.88) and mainly lived in areas of low deprivation (Townsend score M = -1.49, SD = 2.93). The eight different conditions were equivalent on gender and age but significantly different on deprivation |
| Key exclusion criteria | Does not meet inclusion criteria |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/10/2012 |
| Date of final enrolment | 29/11/2012 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
School of Psychology
Leeds
LS2 9JT
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
University/education
c/o Clare Skinner
Faculty Head of Research Support
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Worsley Building
Leeds
LS2 9LN
England
United Kingdom
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/024mrxd33 |
|---|
Funders
Funder type
Research council
Government organisation / National government
- Alternative name(s)
- ESRC
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | A paper reporting the details of the study and key findings will be prepared during 2016. |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/05/2017 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
27/04/2018: Publication reference added.
