Register      Login
Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Short message service broadcasting to improve the uptake of influenza vaccination in HIV-positive patients at a metropolitan sexual health clinic

Chanelle Stowers A , Loretta Healey A D and Catherine C. O’Connor A B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Sexual Health Service, Community Health, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia.

B The Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Wallace Wurth Building, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.

C The Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: healeyl@email.cs.nsw.gov.au

Sexual Health 11(6) 590-591 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH14162
Submitted: 20 August 2014  Accepted: 2 October 2014   Published: 18 November 2014

Abstract

A trial of using Short Message Service (SMS) broadcasting at a metropolitan sexual health clinic in 2013 to promote the awareness and uptake of influenza vaccinations in HIV-positive patients resulted in a significant increase in the number of patients contacted (35% vs 81% P < 0.0001) and vaccinated by the clinic (26% vs 47% P < 0.001) compared with 2012, when individual telephone calls were made to patients. Additional benefits were less staff time used promoting influenza vaccination and the resultant lower staff cost. SMS broadcasting is an efficient and inexpensive method of communicating health messages to large numbers of patients.


References

[1]  Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Australian immunization handbook, 10th edn; 2013. Available online at: http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/immunise-influenza [verified July 2014].

[2]  Kunisaki KM, Janoff EN. Influenza in immunosuppressed populations: a review of infection frequency, morbidity, mortality, and vaccine responses. Lancet Infect Dis 2009; 9 493–504.
Influenza in immunosuppressed populations: a review of infection frequency, morbidity, mortality, and vaccine responses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19628174PubMed |

[3]  Neuzil KM, Coffey CS, Mitchel EF, Griffin MR. Cardiopulmonary hospitalizations during influenza season in adults and adolescents with advanced HIV infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2003; 34 304–7.
Cardiopulmonary hospitalizations during influenza season in adults and adolescents with advanced HIV infection.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14600576PubMed |

[4]  Bourne C, Knight V, Guy R, Wand H, Lu H, McNulty A. Short message service reminder intervention doubles sexually transmitted infection/HIV re-testing rates among men who have sex with men. Sex Transm Infect 2011; 87 229–31.
Short message service reminder intervention doubles sexually transmitted infection/HIV re-testing rates among men who have sex with men.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3M3ot1Wqug%3D%3D&md5=96bda2f9d22a39358ee1d28aa9a88e7aCAS | 21296796PubMed |

[5]  Guy R, Wand H, Knight V, Kenigsberg A, Read P, McNulty A. SMS reminders improve re-screening in women and heterosexual men with Chlamydia infection at Sydney Sexual Health Centre: a before-and-after study. Sex Transm Infect 2013; 89 11–5.
SMS reminders improve re-screening in women and heterosexual men with Chlamydia infection at Sydney Sexual Health Centre: a before-and-after study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22517890PubMed |