title: Postcard reminders from GPs for influenza vaccine: are they more effective than an ad hoc approach?
abstract: All persons 65 years and older are recommended to be immunised against influenza each autumn. As immunisation rates remain low, we conducted a randomised control trial in a three-partner urban general practice to evaluate the differential effectiveness of a single postcard reminder in a general practice setting compared to usual care. All non-residential patients aged 65 years and over were identified from the age/sex/disease register. After exclusions, 325 patients were stratified by sex (125 men and 200 women) and randomised to receive either a postcard reminder in large print mailed in April or usual care. General practitioners (GPs) were blind to the randomisation. A blinded record audit performed in July demonstrated that the postcard was effective in increasing immunisation for men (chi(2)1df = 3.85; p = 0.05) but not for women (chi(2)1df = 0.45; p = 0.50). After adjusting for 1995 immunisation status, the effect of the postcard on immunisation rates was even stronger in men (Wald chi(2)1df = 6.20; p = 0.01) but remained non-significant in women (Wald chi(2)1df = 1.38; p = 0.24). With this adjustment, the odds of having the 1996 flu vaccine for men sent the postcard reminder were three times that of men in the control group (OR = 3.0; 95% CI 1.3-6.9). In a general practice setting, a single postcard reminder appears to be a promising way to boost influenza immunisation rates among ageing men. Replication of the study is recommended.
authors.affiliation: CSAHS Needs Assessment & Health Outcomes Unit, New South Wales.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puech
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lajoie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D011177:Postal Service; D017010:Reminder Systems; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines