UPDATE: A groundbreaking study from the Perelman School of Medicine reveals that combining patient and clinician nudges can increase flu vaccination rates by an astonishing 28%. This vital research was published in JAMA Internal Medicine and highlights a crucial intervention amid rising vaccine hesitancy.
Patients who received text message reminders and had a flu shot order waiting from their primary care provider were significantly more likely to get vaccinated. Lead author Shivan Mehta, MD, MBA, MSHP, emphasizes the urgency of these findings, stating, “This is important given the rise in vaccine hesitancy, which has resulted in a downward trend in flu vaccinations coinciding with a high rate of hospitalization this flu season.”
The study involved over 52,000 participants from both the University of Pennsylvania Health System and University of Washington Health System (UW Medicine). Researchers found that nearly 3,000 additional individuals received flu shots due to the nudges compared to those receiving standard care. This increase is particularly significant given that flu-related illnesses have hospitalized up to 710,000 people annually since 2010, claiming as many as 52,000 lives each year.
What made this nudging approach effective? According to co-senior author Amol Navathe, MD, Ph.D., the automatic orders encouraged meaningful conversations between primary care physicians and their patients. “We know these clinicians still have a lot of trust from their communities,” he noted, highlighting the importance of communication in healthcare.
The intervention involved sending automated text reminders to eligible patients and providing clinicians with monthly updates comparing their vaccination rates to peers. This dual approach aimed to address both patient and clinician behaviors, a strategy that has shown limited success in the past when focused solely on patients.
The research team is now expanding their efforts, having replicated these strategies at Lancaster General Health within the University of Pennsylvania Health System. This site serves a diverse patient base that differs from the original study’s urban populations. Preliminary results from this replication are underway, indicating a commitment to refining and scaling these interventions.
Health systems are particularly interested in these findings as they leverage existing electronic health record tools without requiring additional staffing. Future strategies may integrate automated communications with direct clinician engagement for patients still hesitant about vaccinations, potentially increasing overall vaccination rates.
As flu season approaches, the implications of this study are crucial. Health authorities and patients alike can benefit from these insights, aiming to reverse the troubling trends in vaccination rates. The ongoing analysis and application of these findings could reshape how flu vaccinations are promoted and delivered in the future.
For ongoing updates, follow the conversation around this vital research and its impact on public health as we move through this year’s flu season.
