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 CA 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
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