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Text4Health

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Text4Health is a mobile health research program that uses text messages to remind individuals of due-dates for vaccinations. Text4Health has implemented and evaluated its intervention in different populations regarding flu vaccines, HPV vaccines, meningitis, and others.

Goal / Mission

Text4Health aims to improve immunization rates in urban, underserved, low-income populations via text messaging.

Results / Accomplishments

In one study, text message reminders were sent to a random sample of 195 parents whose children aged 11-18 years needed either or both meningococcal (MCV4) and tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) immunizations. Receipt of these vaccines at 4, 12, and 24 weeks was compared between the intervention group and age- and gender-matched controls. Around twice as many adolescents with intervention parents received either or both MCV4 and Tdap at weeks 4, 12, and 24 (p<0.005).

Text message reminders were also successful in a study on its effects on influenza vaccination rates. Among 7,574 children and adolescents randomly assigned to intervention and control groups, the text message intervention was associated with an increased rate of influenza vaccination (difference=3.7%, p=0.001).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Columbia University Physicians and Surgeons, Mailman School of Public Health, New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Primary Contact
Melissa Stockwell
(212) 342-5732
mstockwell@columbia.edu
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/text4health/
Topics
Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases
Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Organization(s)
Columbia University Physicians and Surgeons, Mailman School of Public Health, New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Date of publication
2012
Geographic Type
Urban
For more details
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22390457
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22535855
Target Audience
Teens, Adults, Women

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An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.