The Impact of Theory-based Messaging on Covid-19 Vaccination Intentions

NCT04813770 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 200200052
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 1,113
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Uptake of vaccination against COVID-19 is key to controlling the pandemic. However, a significant proportion of people report that they do not intend to have a vaccine, often because of concerns they have about its side effects or safety. It is important to identify ways to communicate information about the vaccines that facilitate informed decisions rather than promoting uptake through coercion. This study will assess whether theory-based messages can change beliefs and increase intentions to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Scotland. The messages will be based on publicly available information about the need for COVID-19 vaccination and the safety of the vaccines, and structured to address specific types of treatment beliefs. Participants will be randomised to either a group shown the messages or a control group shown general information messages about the COVID-19 virus and vaccination programme. By comparing the two groups we aim to test what impact the theory-based messages have on intentions and beliefs about COVID-19 vaccination.

Conditions

Vaccination; Covid19

Keywords

vaccine hesitancy; vaccination uptake; messaging; illness beliefs; treatment beliefs

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Covid-19 vaccination intention measured by a single item and aggregated as the proportion of intenders.

  Participants will be asked: "If you were invited to have a COVID-19 vaccination would you take the vaccine?" Those responding "yes, probably" or "yes, definitely" will be treated as intenders. Those responding "don't know", "probably not" or "definitely not" will be treated as non-intenders.

  Immediately post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Mean COVID-19 illness coherence score as assessed by the IPQ-R

  Immediately post-intervention

• Mean perceived necessity score as assessed by the BMQ

  Immediately post-intervention

• Mean perceived concerns score as assessed by the BMQ

  Immediately post-intervention

Study Arms (2)

Theory-based messages

EXPERIMENTAL

Theory-based health messages about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination, the necessity of COVID-19 vaccination to oneself and others, and COVID-19 vaccine regulatory approval processes. These messages are based on publicly available information and are hypothesised to increase perceived necessity and reduce concerns about vaccination, and target known barriers to vaccine uptake.

Behavioral: Theory-based messages

General messages

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

General messages about the COVID-19 virus and the vaccination programme. These messages do not target necessity and concerns, but are anticipated to promote understanding of the pandemic.

Behavioral: General messages

Interventions

Theory-based messages BEHAVIORAL

COVID-19 vaccination information structured to address vaccination necessity and concerns.

Theory-based messages

General messages BEHAVIORAL

General messages about the COVID-19 virus and the vaccination programme.

General messages

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the trial
• Aged 18 years or above
• Resident in Scotland

You may not qualify if:

• Received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Glasgow: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Glasgow

Glasgow, United Kingdom

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Young B, Kotzur M, Gatting L, Bonner C, Ayre J, McConnachie A, Batcup C, McCaffery K, O'Carroll R, Robb KA. The impact of theory-based messages on COVID-19 vaccination intentions: a structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2021 Apr 29;22(1):311. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05277-7.

  PMID: 33926540 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

COVID-19; Vaccination Hesitancy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Virus Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Vaccination Refusal; Treatment Refusal; Treatment Adherence and Compliance; Health Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• Katie Robb

  University of Glasgow

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: Participants will not be blinded to the assigned intervention but will not be informed of the purpose of the study until they have completed the follow-up survey, at which point they will be debriefed. Investigators will be blinded to allocation because all procedures will be undertaken digitally and remotely without any investigator contact with participants.
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Reader

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 23, 2021
• First Posted: March 24, 2021
• Study Start: April 6, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 26, 2021
• Study Completion: April 26, 2021
• Last Updated: May 10, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: On publication of the study results for a period of ten years.
• Access Criteria: Data will be made publicly available.

Locations

GB (1)