Telehealth Education for Vaccine Hesitancy

Overseen By Sara Al-Dahir, PharmD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Xavier University of Louisiana.

Disqualifiers: Completed COVID-19 vaccine, Allergy, Immunosuppressive conditions, Congestive heart failure, Cardiac arrhythmia

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

360 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how telehealth education influences people's willingness to adopt preventive health strategies, such as improved nutrition and managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. Participants will receive either personalized education tailored to their health risks or general wellness education through telehealth. The researchers aim to determine if personalized advice increases adherence to preventive health measures. The trial seeks individuals working or training in fields like healthcare, education, or food services, who are comfortable using telehealth technology like tablets or smartphones. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance preventive health strategies.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on education about vaccines and wellness, so it's unlikely that you would need to change your medication routine.

What prior data suggests that this telehealth education program is safe?

Research shows that telehealth education programs are generally safe and easy to manage. In the Telehealth: Wellness and Vaccination approach, one study found that virtual education for healthcare providers improved their knowledge and reduced vaccine hesitancy, with no reported negative effects. This suggests participants likely respond well to this type of education.

The TeleHealth: Wellness Only approach also uses telehealth for education. Studies have shown that telemedicine, including telehealth, helps people make health-related decisions like getting vaccinated without causing harm.

Since these programs focus on education and do not involve new medications or treatments, they are considered low-risk. Participants usually feel more informed and confident, with no significant negative effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how telehealth can tackle vaccine hesitancy by focusing on personalized education and preventative health strategies. Unlike traditional methods that might involve in-person consultations, these telehealth interventions offer convenience and accessibility, allowing individuals to receive tailored advice on nutrition, work-life balance, and disease prevention from the comfort of their homes. The trial also investigates whether personalized strategies focusing on individual health risks can engage patients more effectively than standard educational approaches. This could lead to more informed health decisions and improved vaccination rates.

What evidence suggests that this trial's telehealth education treatments could be effective for vaccine hesitancy?

Research has shown that telehealth education can help reduce worries about vaccines. For example, programs educating pregnant women about COVID-19 vaccines have increased their willingness to get vaccinated. Additionally, online education for healthcare workers has improved their understanding and reduced their concerns about vaccines. This trial will compare two telehealth approaches: one arm will focus on personalized preventative medicine strategies, while the other will provide standardized preventative medicine education. Both arms aim to inform participants and potentially change their views on vaccines. Although more research is needed, early results are promising for using telehealth to support health and prevention efforts. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Sara Al-Dahir, PhD

Principal Investigator

Xavier University of Louisiana.

Klaus Heyer, PhD

Principal Investigator

Nunez Community College

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults aged 18-55 working in high-risk industries like healthcare, education, and food service. Participants should have incomplete COVID-19 or flu vaccinations, speak English, and be able to use telehealth tech. Those with severe allergies to vaccines, certain heart conditions, immunosuppressive diseases, or who've completed their COVID-19 vaccine series can't join.

Inclusion Criteria

Currently employed or seeking training in target industries such as healthcare, education, beauty, hospitality, food (culinary) and industrial plant workers

Able to use Telehealth technology via tablet, cell phone, or computer

I have not completed my COVID-19 or flu vaccinations.

Exclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

I have been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.

Individuals with documented allergy or reaction to COVID-19 or influenza vaccine

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive telehealth interventions focusing on wellness, with one arm also receiving vaccination education and counseling

24-30 months

Minimum of 3 individual visits and group informational visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for vaccine completion and changes in vaccine hesitancy

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Telehealth: Wellness and Vaccination
• TeleHealth: Wellness Only

Trial Overview The study tests a telehealth program run by clinical pharmacists focusing on wellness and vaccination education. Participants will either learn about general wellness or wellness plus vaccination over a period of up to 30 months through individual and group sessions. The goal is to see if this increases vaccine completion rates among at-risk workers.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Telehealth Arm: Personalized Preventative Medicine Strategies Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Individuals in this arm will complete a personalized telehealth interventions that focus on nutrition, work-life balance, medication compliance, herbals, exercise targets hyperlipidemia, diabetes and hypertension around individual risks for development of the disease state. All educations will be completed one-on-one as well as small group.

Group II: Telehealth Arm: Preventative Medicine Education Active Control 1 Intervention

Individuals in this arm will complete standardized telehealth interventions that focus on nutrition, work-life balance, mental health, diabetes and hypertension general education. All educations will be completed one-on-one as well as small group.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Xavier University of Louisiana.

Lead Sponsor

Trials

9

Recruited

2,700+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A survey of pharmacists in Alaska identified unmet training needs related to vaccine hesitancy, which is crucial for improving vaccine confidence and increasing vaccination rates.

An expert panel developed a tailored training program for pharmacy professionals, emphasizing adult-learning strategies and real-world examples to effectively address vaccine hesitancy among patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pandemic response in Alaska: Preparing pharmacists to lead vaccination efforts. Robinson, R., Young, A., Wagner, R., et al.[2023]

A quality improvement project involving 70 participants successfully identified vaccine hesitancy (VH) using the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines survey, leading to targeted interventions.

After the intervention, 81.8% of participants who were initially hesitant about vaccines no longer showed hesitancy, indicating that routine screening and targeted interventions can significantly improve vaccine compliance (p = .004).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Vaccine Hesitancy in Rural Pediatric Primary Care. Mical, R., Martin-Velez, J., Blackstone, T., et al.[2021]

Vaccine hesitancy is recognized by the World Health Organization as a major global health threat, necessitating effective strategies to address it.

The AIMS approach (Announce, Inquire, Mirror, and Secure) is a training method for healthcare professionals that aims to improve communication with hesitant patients, fostering trust and potentially increasing vaccination rates.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The AIMS approach: regulating receptivity in patient-provider vaccine conversations. Parrish-Sprowl, J., Thomson, A., Johnson, RD., et al.[2023]

An educational intervention at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base successfully reduced COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among 500 participants, with 36% of initially hesitant individuals becoming receptive to vaccination after the seminar.

Trust in healthcare providers significantly influenced the change in vaccine intent, highlighting that building trust can be crucial in addressing vaccine hesitancy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of an Education Intervention on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Military Base Population. Li, PC., Theis, SR., Kelly, D., et al.[2022]

Vaccine hesitancy (VH) is characterized by a delay in acceptance or outright refusal of vaccines, even when vaccination services are readily available.

Understanding the factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy is crucial for improving vaccination rates and public health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mass Immunization and Vaccine Hesitancy in Children and Their Families: A Long and Winding Road Ahead to Address without a Second Thought. Gori, D., Montalti, M., Guaraldi, F.[2021]

Professionally facilitated Internet-based health programs can moderately improve health outcomes and user satisfaction for certain clinical populations, indicating their potential effectiveness.

However, there is a need for a stronger evidence base to support the broader implementation of these eHealth applications in patient-centered care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Internet-based patient education and support interventions: a review of evaluation studies and directions for future research. Nguyen, HQ., Carrieri-Kohlman, V., Rankin, SH., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 52 studies on ECHO and ECHO-like tele-education models found that while providers reported increased satisfaction, knowledge, and clinical confidence, the overall quality of evidence was low due to reliance on self-reports and surveys.

For patient-related outcomes, evidence suggested some effectiveness in improving care for conditions like hepatitis C and type 2 diabetes, but most studies were non-randomized and retrospective, highlighting the need for more rigorous research to confirm these findings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of Project ECHO Models of Medical Tele-Education: a Systematic Review. McBain, RK., Sousa, JL., Rose, AJ., et al.[2021]

The Project ECHO model has effectively expanded access to specialized cancer care over the past 10 years, with a review of 25 studies showing widespread participation and improved learning among healthcare providers.

Nearly half of the studies indicated that ECHO programs led to changes in provider practices, particularly in areas like HCV vaccination and palliative care, suggesting the model's potential to enhance clinical outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Project ECHO for Cancer Care: a Scoping Review of Provider Outcome Evaluations. Arora, S., Brakey, HR., Jones, JL., et al.[2023]

Caregivers who participated in a 6-week telehealth wellness program reported feeling more prepared for their caregiving roles, highlighting the importance of self-maintenance strategies and the normalization of their experiences through group support.

Despite some challenges with technology, participants found the telehealth format beneficial for learning and building relationships, suggesting that telehealth can effectively increase access to health promotion programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Caregiver Perceptions of a Telehealth Wellness Program. Serwe, KM., Hersch, GI., Pickens, ND., et al.[2018]

The eHealth intervention was delivered with high fidelity, with 93% of participants receiving initial training and 98.45% of expected follow-ups conducted, indicating strong program adherence.

Despite high engagement from 40.4% of users over 12 months, increased usage did not lead to significant improvements in clinical outcomes or lifestyle changes, suggesting that simply using the intervention more frequently does not guarantee better health results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Internet-Based Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease Management Integrated With Primary Care Electronic Health Records: Mixed Methods Evaluation of Implementation Fidelity and User Engagement. Coorey, G., Peiris, D., Scaria, A., et al.[2021]

Citations

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Using a Telehealth and Shared Decision-Making Model to ... The primary outcome is willingness to participate in preventative medicine strategies to prevent development of chronic medical conditions. The secondary ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9227551/

The Health Belief Model Applied to COVID-19 Vaccine ... The average vaccination hesitancy rate was reported by country, continent, sample, and year of data collection. 3. Results. 3.1. Characteristics ...

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The contribution of ICTs and telemedicine to COVID-19 ... This paper explores the influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and telemedicine on COVID-19 vaccination decisions in the United States.

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/389766402_Effectiveness_of_Online_Vaccine_Communication_Training_and_Assessment_Using_Virtual_Encounters_with_Standardized_Vaccine-Hesitant_Parents/fulltext/67d155d632265243f5852733/Effectiveness-of-Online-Vaccine-Communication-Training-and-Assessment-Using-Virtual-Encounters-with-Standardized-Vaccine-Hesitant-Parents.pdf?origin=scientificContributions

Effectiveness-of-Online-Vaccine-Communication-Training- ... Objective: Determine the effectiveness of online training in vaccine hesitancy communication using telemedicine encounters with SPs. Methods: ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11359052/

Integrating Digital Health Solutions with Immunization Strategies Case studies from different regions demonstrate the effectiveness of these technologies in addressing challenges such as vaccine hesitancy, ...

6. jmir.org jmir.org/2025/1/e72637

and Evidence-Based, Motivational Interviewing–Oriented ... Primary outcomes included vaccine hesitancy. Secondary outcomes included vaccine readiness, confidence, trust in government, and health literacy ...

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Improving Vaccine Counseling Skills Among Residents ... Unfortunately, only 40% of US pediatric residency programs reported in a survey that vaccine safety and counseling training is provided to ...