"Necesita una vacuna": what Spanish-speakers want in text-message immunization reminders.

Appointment reminders help parents deal with complex immunization schedules. Preferred content of text-message reminders has been identified for English-speakers. Spanish-speaking parents of children under three years old were recruited to develop Spanish text-message immunization reminders.

Feasibility of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate Text Reminders for Immunization Compliance in Kids (TRICKs).

Objective: To pilot test the Text Reminders for Immunization Compliance in Kids (TRICKs) program to evaluate its feasibility and potential to increase immunization coverage.

Design: Randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Setting: Pediatric clinic.

Parent opinions about use of text messaging for immunization reminders.

Background: Adherence to childhood immunization schedules is a function of various factors. Given the increased use of technology as a strategy to increase immunization coverage, it is important to investigate how parents perceive different forms of communication, including traditional means and text-message reminders.

Objective: To examine current forms of communication about immunization information, parents' satisfaction levels with these communication modes, perceived barriers and benefits to using text messaging, and the ideal content of text messages for immunization reminders.

Using human factors techniques to design text message reminders for childhood immunization.

This study engaged parents to develop concise, informative, and comprehensible text messages for an immunization reminder system using Human Factors techniques. Fifty parents completed a structured interview including demographics, technology questions, willingness to receive texts from their child's doctor, and health literacy. Each participant was assigned to one user-centered design test: card sort, needs analysis, or comprehension.

Physician impressions of using text message technology to increase vaccination compliance.

Introduction: Immunization schedules are complicated and difficult for parents to remember. Parents are willing to receive text message reminders. However, it is unknown whether physicians are willing to implement such a system.

Preliminary benefits of information therapy.

Unlabelled: Information therapy (ie, information prescriptions) is a potential new tool for primary care physicians that could improve patient knowledge, decision making, and communication between physicians and patients. Although patients have access to numerous health-related articles online, the availability of this health information does not ensure improved knowledge or better health decisions by patients. Communication between patients and physicians is often limited and messages are commonly misunderstood.

Content of text messaging immunization reminders: what low-income parents want to know.

Objective: The purpose of this project was to gather preliminary data on preferred content for text reminders sent to low-income parents.

Methods: A brief, IRB-approved survey was administered to 200 consecutive English-speaking parents of children under 6 years old at a Pediatric Residency clinic. Because text messages can hold only limited content, parents were given three example texts ranging from very basic to very specific information and asked to select the information they would wish to receive.

Effects of therapeutic massage on the quality of life among patients with breast cancer during treatment.

Objective: Therapeutic massage has demonstrated positive physical and emotional benefits to offset the effects of treatments associated with breast cancer. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of therapeutic massage on the quality of life of patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Design: Using a pre/post intervention assessment design, this prospective, convenience sample pilot study measured anxiety, pain, nausea, sleep quality, and quality of life.

An assessment of a pilot asthma education program for childcare workers in a high-prevalence county.

Objective: To assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and intentions among childcare workers before and after an asthma-management-education session.

Methods: Between May and August 2004 five asthma-education sessions were provided for childcare workers from Sonoma County, California. A total of 71 childcare workers came to the sessions.