Review: recall or reminder systems improve the rate of childhood and adult immunisation
QUESTION: Can postal or telephone systems designed to remind patients that they are due or overdue for immunisation improve the rate of completed immunisation?
Data sources
Studies were identified by searching Medline, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, and CAB Health Abstracts from their inception through 1998. Bibliographies of studies and review articles and conference proceedings were scanned and personal files were searched.
Study selection
English language randomised controlled trials (RCTs), controlled before after studies, and interrupted times series studies were included if a patient recall system was evaluated and reported as primary research, the studies used common national or international childhood or adult approved vaccinations, and rates of completed immunisations were given.
Data extraction
Data were extracted on study quality, patient characteristics (age, practice setting, date of study, and type of vaccination), type of reminder or recall intervention (postcard, letter, telephone, autodialer, or combination), frequency of intervention (single or …
