Effect of educative reminder telephone calls on human papillomavirus immunization rate: A randomized controlled trial

Bernard-Genest, Marie-Pier; Ruel-Laliberté, Jessica; Lapointe-Milot, Korine

CONTEXT: Human papillomavirus coverage varies widely among women depending on their race, incomes, geographical location and education level. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether reminder educative phone calls increase human papillomavirus vaccination rates in adult women aged 18–45 with high-risk factors of cervical cancer. DESIGN: We conducted a single-blind randomized controlled trial in patients who consulted at a Canadian tertiary center in October 2019 during National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week. INTERVENTIONS: We randomized women to receive three standardized educative phone calls or standard care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We assessed the immunization rate at 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 130 patients were randomized of which 62 patients were randomized to the intervention. Eight patients (15.4%) got immunized at 6 months in the intervention group as compared to seven (11.7%) in the control group (p = 0.5645). The main barrier to vaccination reported by non-immunized patients at 6 months was the cost of vaccination (42.3%). CONCLUSION: Reminder educative phone calls did not increase human papillomavirus vaccination rates in adult women with risk factors of cervical cancer. ISRCTN registration number: ISRCTN58518971