Use of Construal Level Theory to Inform Messaging to Increase Vaccination Against COVID-19

Brigham and Women's Hospital3,671 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to increase uptake of the COVID booster vaccine through messaging informed by Construal Level Theory. Patients in the Mass General Brigham (MGB) health system aged 18 and older who are eligible for the COVID booster vaccine, but who have not yet received a dose at the time of an upcoming primary care clinic visit, will be randomized to one of three messaging arms: 1) "why" messaging, 2) "how" messaging, or 3) standard of care ("usual care"). Messages will be sent via the electronic patient portal a few days in advance of their office visit. The primary outcome will be the rate of booster vaccination at the targeted visit. The secondary outcome will be the rate of receipt of a COVID booster vaccine within 6 weeks of the targeted visit. Subgroup analyses to assess for any association of patient characteristics with intervention responsiveness will be exploratory.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

3,671

Conditions

Covid19 Vaccine Refusal

Interventions

Messages are informed by construal level theory, which suggests that emphasizing "why" elicits more abstract thinking, or high-level construals, and can induce an emotional mindset, which could challenge an individual's sense of identity, autonomy, or political preferences. Conversely, emphasizing "how" is more cognitive and evokes concrete thinking, or low-level construals, and encourages a planning or implementation mindset, which may be better for encouraging vaccine uptake.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients in the Mass General Brigham system * Aged 18 and older * Are eligible for the COVID booster vaccine but have not received a dose at time of upcoming primary care clinic visit Exclusion Criteria: * Documented allergy to a COVID vaccine or its components * Home address outside of Massachusetts * Did not receive full set of primary COVID-19 vaccination series

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Number of Participants Who Received a Booster Vaccination Through the Targeted Visit

Number of participants who received one dose of a COVID booster vaccine between randomization through the date of the scheduled visit, determined through electronic health records.

Time frame: 2-5 days

Secondary Outcomes

Number of Participants Who Received a Booster Vaccination Within 6 Weeks of the Targeted Visit

Number of participants who received one dose of a COVID booster vaccine between randomization through 6 weeks after the targeted visit, determined through electronic health records.

Time frame: 6 weeks after the target visit